SPARKILL, N.Y. (May 2, 2025) – Despite a home run and a team-high four RBI on the day from sophomore Allison Murphy (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland), the No. 2 seeded Mercy University softball team dropped a 7-3 decision to No. 1 seeded St. Thomas Aquinas College in Game Three of the ECC Softball Championship before falling 10-3 to No. 4 seeded D'Youville University in Game Five on Friday afternoon at Spartan Field.
The Mavericks (23-22) end their season in the ECC Championship for the fifth straight year and won their first ECC Championship game since 2021. Mercy finishes with their most wins in a season since 2019 and their most ECC wins (12) since 2021. The Spartans (30-17) advance to Saturday's Final where they will face the Saints (21-18) at STAC at 12 p.m.
Game 1: STAC 7, Mercy 3
After a scoreless top of the first inning, Murphy led off the bottom of the first for the second straight day with a home run to give Mercy a 1-0 lead.
The score remained 1-0 until the fourth inning when Trinadey Santiago hit a two-run home run to give STAC a 2-1 lead.
The Spartans added two runs in the sixth and three runs in the seventh to take a 7-1 lead. Mercy scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to make it 7-3. Sophomore Averi Miller (Las Vegas, Nev./Arbor View), freshman Jessica Fox (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Knolls) and sophomore Dylan Reyer (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) singled to load the bases. Murphy then singled to left field, scoring Miller and freshman Mikaela Mammola (Pawling, N.Y./Pawling) to make it 7-3. A flyout to center ended the game.
Mercy was led by Murphy who went 2-for-3 with her third home run of the season and a game-high three RBI. Reyer went 2-for-2 and Miller, Fox and senior Madilyn Lula (Milford, Conn./Jonathan Law) all went 1-for-3. Senior Skylar Brandemarte (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Stonehill College) allowed six runs in 6.1 innings to take the loss.
STAC was led by Eliana Raposo who went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Sarah Clancy allowed three runs in seven innings to earn the win.
Mercy had seven hits and one error and STAC had 13 hits and no errors.
Game 2: D'Youville 10, Mercy 3
D'Youville took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on an Annie Jorgenson two-run home run.
The Saints added a run in the fifth inning on a Sophia Arno RBI double to make it 3-0. Mercy scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at 3-3. Miller singled, Lula reached on an error by the pitcher and Reyer reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Murphy then singled home Miller to make it 3-1 and graduate student Mia Harris (West Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Lula to make it 3-2. Reyer scored the tying run after a wild pitch.
The score remained tied until the seventh inning when D'Youville scored seven runs on five hits and three Mercy errors to take a 10-3 lead. The Mavericks went down in order in the bottom of the seventh, giving the Saints the 10-3 win.
Mercy was led by Murphy who went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Miller went 1-for-3 with a run and freshman Lauren McSweeney (Islip, N.Y./Islip) allowed two runs in 0.1innings to take a no-decision. Junior Mackayla Secoda (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) pitched 4.0 innings of relief with one run allowed and Brandemarte allowed seven runs in the seventh inning to take the loss.
D'Youville was led by Jorgenson who went 2-for-4 with three RBI. Sarah Parzych pitched a complete game to earn the win.
Mercy had two hits and four errors and D'Youville had 10 hits and one error.
