BLOOMFIELD, N.J. (Mar. 1, 2025) – Powered by complete game wins in the circle from senior Skylar Brandemarte (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Stonehill College) and junior Mackayla Secoda (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn), the Mercy University softball team opened their 2025 season with 4-2 and 4-0 wins over Bloomfield College on Saturday afternoon at Clark's Pond South.
The Mavericks (2-0) start 2-0 for the first time since 2018 and sweep the Bears (0-4) for the first time since 2023.
Game 1: Mercy 4, Bloomfield 2 (8 Innings)
Mercy took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Graduate student Mia Harris (West Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) walked and stole second and third before scoring on a freshman Jessica Fox (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Knolls) sacrifice fly to center field.
The Bears evened the score at 1-1 with a run in the second inning.
Bloomfield took a 2-1 lead after scoring a run in the fourth inning.
The game remained 2-1 until the top of the seventh when Mercy scored a run to tie the game at 2-2, sending the game into extra innings. Freshman Keira Jantz (Islip, N.Y./Islip) walked to lead off the inning and sophomore Onnika DeBruhl (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) pinch ran and later stole second before scoring on a freshman Alexis Lemus (Chino, Calif./South Hills) RBI double to tie the game at 2-2 with two outs.
The Mavericks scored two runs in the eighth inning to take a 4-2 lead. Freshman Mikaela Mammola (Pawling, N.Y./Pawling) scored on a sophomore Allison Murphy (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland) RBI double to make it 3-2 and Murphy later scored after sophomore Averi Miller (Las Vegas, Nev./Arbor View) reached on a fielder's choice to make it 4-2.
Brandemarte did not allow a run in the bottom of the eighth, giving Mercy the 4-2 game one win.
Mercy was led by Brandemarte who pitched all eight innings with just two runs and four hits allowed with six strikeouts to earn the win in her Mercy debut. Murphy went 1-for-4 with an RBI, Jantz went 1-for-1 and Lemus went 1-for-1 with an RBI. Mammola went 1-for-3 and Miller and Fox both had RBI.
Bloomfield was led by Islynn Lugo who went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Rayn Romero allowed three earned runs in eight innings to take the loss.
Mercy had four hits and one error and Bloomfield had four hits and one error.
Game 2: Mercy 4, Bloomfield 0
Mercy took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Fox doubled to lead off the inning and stole second before scoring on a Jantz sacrifice fly.
The Mavericks added an insurance run in the fourth inning to take a 2-0 lead. Miller led off the inning with a single and stole second before Fox singled to put runners on first and third. Fox would later score after senior Victoria Seppala (Abington, Mass/Abington) reached on a fielder's choice.
Mercy made it 4-0 in the top of the seventh with two runs. Senior Madilyn Lula (Milford, Conn./Jonathan Law) led off the inning with a single and freshman Talia Salanto (Milford, Conn./Jonathan Law) singled to put runners on second and third. Lemus then brought home both Lula and Salanto on an RBI groundout to make it 4-0.
Secoda held the Bears scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, giving Mercy the 4-0 game two win and the sweep.
Mercy was led by Secoda who pitched a complete game shutout with two hits allowed and eight strikeouts to earn the win. Fox went 2-for-3 with two runs and Murphy went 1-for-4. Lemus went 1-for-2 with two RBI and Jantz went 1-for-2 with an RBI. Harris and Miller went 1-for-3 and Lula and Salanto went 1-for-3 with a run.
Bloomfield was led by Lugo who went 1-for-2 and by Kate Juskiewicz who allowed two runs in five innings to take the loss.
Mercy had nine hits and no errors and Bloomfield had two hits and one error.
Head Coach Jaime Lorenzo and the Mavericks resume action on Friday, March 7th when they face Southern New Hampshire and Holy Family in Florida starting at 11:30 a.m.
