MELBOURNE, Fla. (Mar. 9, 2024) – Powered by the go-ahead home run in the sixth inning from graduate student Samantha Franck (La Habra Heights, Calif./La Habra), a game-high two RBI from freshman Averi Miller (Las Vegas, Nev./Arbor View) and a complete game from sophomore Mackayla Secoda (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) in game two, the Mercy University softball team dropped a 6-2 decision to Ferris State University before earning a 7-1 win over Ursuline College on Saturday afternoon.
The Mavericks (2-4) snap a three-game losing streak with the game two win, while the Bulldogs (11-13) snap a three-game losing streak with the game one win and the Arrows (1-4) have dropped four games in a row.
Game 1: Ferris State 6, Mercy 2
Ferris State scored two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead. Mercy scored a run in the second inning to make it 2-1. Franck led off the inning with a double and scored on a sophomore Elizabeth Stark (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) RBI double.
The Bulldogs scored four runs in the second inning to take a 6-1 lead.
The score remained 6-1 until the sixth inning when Mercy scored a run to make it 6-2. Sophomore Delaney Baker (Lambertville, N.J./South Hunterdon Regional) singled and later scored on a freshman Julianna Coluccio (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek Regional) RBI single.
Mercy went down in order in the seventh inning, giving Ferris State the 6-2 win.
Stark went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Coluccio went 1-for-1 with an RBI. Miller went 2-for-3 and senior Mia Harris (West Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) went 2-for-2. Freshman Allison Murphy (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland) went 1-for-4 and freshman Dylan Reyer (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) went 1-for-2. Franck went 1-for-3 and Baker went 1-for-1. Senior Shannon Sisco (Cicero, N.Y./Mansfield University) went 1-for-3 and graduate student Alexi Benson (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) allowed six runs in three innings to take the loss. Secoda pitched three scoreless innings of relief.
Ferris State was led by Catherine O'Donohue who went 3-for-3 with two RBI. Rylie Haist pitched four innings of relief to earn the win.
Mercy had 11 hits and two errors and Ferris State had nine hits and one error.
Game 2: Mercy 7, Ursuline 1
The Arrows took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Mercy scored a run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 1-1. Murphy singled and later scored on a graduate student Nicole Smart (Santa Clarita, Calif./Golden Valley) RBI single.
The score remained 1-1 until the sixth inning when the Mavericks scored six runs to take a 7-1 lead. After a groundout to start the inning, Franck homered to give Mercy a 2-1 lead. After another groundout made two outs in the inning, Baker singled and moved to third after two passed balls. Harris then walked before Coluccio singled home Baker and Harris also scored after an error by the right fielder, making it 4-1. Murphy then reached on an error, allowing Coluccio to score to make it 5-1. Sisco then reached on an error and stole second before Miller singled home both Murphy and Sisco to give Mercy a 7-1 lead.
Secoda held Ursuline scoreless in the seventh inning, giving Mercy the 7-1 win.
Franck went 1-for-3 with her first home run of the season and Miller went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Smart went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Coluccio went 1-for-1 with an RBI. Murphy went 1-for-3 with two runs and Baker went 1-for-1. Secoda pitched a complete game with one run allowed and six strikeouts to earn the win.
Ursuline was led by Jovanna Herrera who went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Casey Barton pitched a complete game to take the loss.
Mercy had seven hits and no errors and Ursuline had three hits and four errors.
Head Coach Jaime Lorenzo and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they take on Franklin Pierce and Illinois Springfield at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
