DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 1, 2025) – The Mercy University softball team hosts RV Pace University on Wednesday, April 2nd at 2:30 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Wednesday, April 2nd 2:30 & 4:30 p.m.
Records: Mercy (11-11), RV Pace (16-8)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Pace
Mercy dropped 10-5 and 2-1 decisions to Pace on March 30, 2022.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy entered the 2025 season picked second in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 14-28 overall and 8-12 in ECC play last season, qualifying for the ECC Tournament for the fourth straight season. The Mavericks earned the No. 4 seed in the ECC Tournament last season and look to qualify for the ECC Tournament for the fifth straight season under Head Coach Jaime Lorenzo.
Leading the returners for the Mavericks is sophomore Averi Miller who hit .336 last season with 30 RBI, 24 runs, eight stolen bases and eight doubles last season. Also returning is sophomore Allison Murphy who hit .299 in 2024 with 11 RBI, seven doubles and two home runs. Murphy had a team-high 31 runs and set a single-season school record with 25 stolen bases. Sophomore Dylan Reyer is back after hitting .308 with 11 RBI, 19 stolen bases and 21 runs scored.
Senior Victoria Seppala is back after being named First Team All-ECC in 2023. She hit .328 with 15 RBI and 28 runs scored in 2023. Sophomore Julianna Coluccio also returns after hitting .300 last season before suffering a season-ending injury. She had nine RBI and nine runs scored in 60 at bats last season. Graduate student Mia Harris is back after hitting .286 a year ago before suffering a season-ending injury. Seniors Madilyn Lula and Kimberlee Childs, junior Elizabeth Stark and sophomore Onnika DeBruhl return after combining for seven RBI and 14 runs scored in 2024.
Leading the returners on the pitching staff is junior Mackayla Secoda who went 6-7 last season with a team-best 3.57 ERA in 94.0 innings with 45 strikeouts. Junior Marina Provencio also returns after pitching 25.1 innings last season with a 1-3 record and 10 strikeouts.
Lorenzo also brings in a strong recruiting class highlighted by Division I Stonehill College transfer senior Skylar Brandemarte. The senior won 21 games in three years at Stonehill with a 4.06 ERA in 431.1 innings with 230 strikeouts. Also joining the Mavericks is freshman Talia Salanto who was named All-State and All-SCC First Team at Jonathan Law High School. Freshman Keira Jantz joins the Mavericks from Islip High School and was named All-County twice. Freshman Alexis Lemus joins Mercy from South Hills High School in California where she hit .412 during her senior year. Freshman Lauren McSweeney was named All-Division, All-County three times and League Pitcher of the Year three times at Islip High School. Freshman Jessica Fox joins Mercy from Morris Knolls High School where she was named Second Team All-Conference and freshman Carly Gaffney holds the school record for strikeouts and hits at Palmerton Area High School. Freshman Mikaela Mammola joins the Mavericks from Pawling High School and was named All-Section and All-League.
Mercy is coming off 15-7 and 6-0 losses at D'Youville on Saturday. The Mavericks were led by freshman Jessica Fox who had a team-high two RBI on the day. Mercy has been led at the plate by freshman Jessica Fox who is hitting .322 with 10 runs to go with 10 RBI. Sophomore Averi Miller is hitting .260 with a team-high 16 RBI with 19 hits to go with 13 runs. Senior Madilyn Lula is hitting .264 with six RBI and a home run and senior Victoria Seppala has eight RBI and a home run. Sophomore Allison Murphy is hitting a team-high .346 with 12 RBI and a team-high 14 runs scored and nine stolen bases and freshman Keira Jantz has seven RBI. Senior Skylar Brandemarte leads the pitching staff with a 5-4 record, a 1.68 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 66.2 innings pitched. Freshman Lauren McSweeney is 3-2 in the circle with a 4.75 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 28.0 innings and junior Mackayla Secoda is 3-2 with a 3.35 ERA in 31.1 innings with 26 strikeouts.
Brandemarte and Murphy were named to the ECC Honor Roll on Monday. McSweeney was named ECC Co-Rookie of the Week last week and Harris, Murphy and Secoda were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Brandemarte, Miller and McSweeney were named to the ECC Honor Roll on March 17th. McSweeney was named ECC Rookie of the Week on March 10th and graduate student Mia Harris, Lula, Brandemarte and freshman Mikaela Mammola were named to the Honor Roll. Freshman Alexis Lemus was named ECC Player and Rookie of the Week on March 3rd and Secoda was tabbed Pitcher of the Week. Jantz and Brandemarte received Honor Roll recognition.
Mercy looks to sweep a doubleheader against Pace for the first time since 2018.
Scouting the Setters
Pace is coming off a 7-0 and 4-2 wins over Franklin Pierce on Sunday. The Setters were picked first in the NE10 Preseason Poll after going 33-16 last season, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. Pace enters Wednesday's games on a 10-game winning streak. The Setters are receiving votes nationally in the NFCA Top 25 Poll. The Setters are led at the plate by Riley Jenkins who is hitting a team-high .392 with 14 RBI and 11 runs. Willa Poplawski is hitting .387 with a team-high 19 RBI and three home runs and Brianna Shea has 14 RBI and 12 runs. Alexa Borino has a team-high 18 runs scored and Raelle Gorman has a team-high nine doubles. Four-time NE10 Pitcher of the Week Gisselle Garcia is 8-2 in the circle with a 1.36 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 79.1 innings. Alyssa Smart is 4-2 with a 3.06 ERA in 47.0 innings with 29 strikeouts.
Next Game
Mercy plays at Queens on Friday, April 4th at 2 & 4 p.m.
