MELBOURNE, Fla. (Mar. 8, 2024) – Despite a team-high three RBI on the day from graduate student Nicole Smart (Santa Clarita, Calif./Golden Valley), the Mercy University softball team dropped a 9-3 decision to Cedarville University before falling 11-6 to Davenport University in game two on Friday afternoon.
The Mavericks (1-3) have dropped two games in a row, while the Yellow Jackets (4-14) have won two games in a row and the Panthers (8-11) have won three games in a row.
Game 1: Cedarville 9, Mercy 3
After a scoreless top of the first, the Mavericks scored three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-0 lead. Senior Shannon Sisco (Cicero, N.Y./Mansfield University) led off the inning with a single and advanced to second following an error by the shortstop. Freshman Dylan Reyer (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) then walked before Reyer and Sisco stole second and third to put runners on second and third with no outs. After a strikeout, graduate student Samantha Franck (La Habra Heights, Calif./La Habra) walked to load the bases. Smart then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Sisco to make it 1-0. Franck and Reyer then stole second and third before freshman Julianna Coluccio (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek Regional) reached on an error by the right field, allowing Franck and Reyer to score, giving Mercy a 3-0 lead. A flyout to left field ended the inning.
Cedarville scored four runs in the top of the second on three hits to take a 4-3 lead. The score remained 4-3 until the fourth inning when the Yellow Jackets scored a run to increase the lead to 5-3.
The Yellow Jackets scored four more runs in the seventh inning to build a 9-3 lead. Mercy could not score in the bottom of the seventh and Cedarville earned the 9-3 win.
Sisco went 1-for-3 with a run scored and sophomore Mackayla Secoda (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) allowed five runs in three innings to take the loss. Graduate student Angelina Oquendo (Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood) pitched three shutout innings of relief.
Cedarville was led by Kaley Clark who went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Adaline Johnson pitched six hitless innings with six strikeouts to earn the win.
Mercy had one hit and one error and Cedarville had 12 hits and three errors.
Game 2: Davenport 11, Mercy 6
Davenport jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and scored five runs in the second, one run in the third and four runs in the fourth to take an 11-0 lead.
Mercy continued to battle and scored six runs in the top of the fifth to make it 11-6. Freshman Madison Haack (Aberdeen, N.J./Matawan Regional) started the rally with a single and scored on a Sisco triple to make it 11-1. Freshman Ryleigh Melendez (Yorktown, N.Y./Lakeland) then singled home Sisco to make it 11-2. Reyer and freshman Averi Miller (Las Vegas, Nev./Arbor View) later singled to load the bases before Smart recorded a two-run double to make it 11-4. Franck then hit another two-run double, scoring Miller and Smart to get the Mavericks to within 11-6. A strikeout ended the inning.
Mercy went down in order in the sixth and seventh innings, giving the Panthers the 11-6 win.
Smart went 1-for-3 with two RBI and Franck went 1-for-2 with two RBI. Sisco went 1-for-2 with an RBI and Melendez went 1-for-3 with an RBI and her first collegiate hit. Haack went 2-for-3 with her first two collegiate hits and Reyer went 2-for-4. Miller went 1-for-4 and sophomore Marina Provencio (Saugus, Calif./Saugus) allowed five earned runs in 1.2 innings to take the loss.
Davenport was led by Hayley Kreiger who went 1-for-3 with three RBI. Cecelia Bell pitched 4.2 innings with six runs allowed and seven strikeouts to earn the win.
Mercy had nine hits and four errors and Davenport had eight hits and no errors.
Head Coach Jaime Lorenzo and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they face Ferris State and Ursuline at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in Melbourne, Florida.
