RINDGE, N.H. – Powered by a three-run home run from freshman Madelyn Perrone (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) and a complete-game win from sophomore Lauren McSweeney (Islip, N.Y./Islip), the No. 8 seeded Mercy University Softball Team earned a 3-2 win over No. 1 seeded Franklin Pierce University in Game Five of the NCAA Division II Softball Championship on Saturday afternoon to advance to the East Region Championship Final for the first time in program history.
The Mavericks (27-19) dropped a 7-1 decision to No. 5 seeded Assumption (32-25) in Game Three of the championship earlier in the day. Mercy eliminates the Ravens (41-12) and will face Assumption tomorrow in the East Region Championship Final at 11 a.m. at Franklin Pierce. The Mavericks need to beat the Greyhounds twice to advance to the Super Regionals. Mercy advances to the Regional Final for the first time in program history.
Game 1: Assumption 7, Mercy 1
Assumption scored two runs in the third inning, a run in the fourth, a run in the fifth and three runs in the seventh inning to take a 7-0 lead.
Mercy scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to make it 7-1. Juniors Allison Murphy (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland) and Averi Miller (Las Vegas, Nev./Arbor View) singled with one out and junior Julianna Coluccio (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek Regional) singled home Murphy to make it 7-1. A popup and fielder's choice ended the game, giving Assumption the 7-1 win.
Mercy was led by Coluccio who went 2-for-4 with an RBI and by Miller and Murphy who both went 2-for-4. Juniors Dylan Reyer (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) and Onnika DeBruhl (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) both went 1-for-2 and sophomore Mikaela Mammola (Pawling, N.Y./Pawling) went 1-for-3. Freshman Emma Jackson (Marlboro, N.Y./Marlboro) went 1-for-4 and Perrone went 1-for-4. McSweeney allowed four runs in 4.1 innings to take the loss.
Assumption was led by Maddy Bland who went 3-for-4 with three RBI. Kaelin Waldron pitched 6.0 shutout innings with two strikeouts to earn the win.
Mercy had 11 hits and no errors and Assumption had 11 hits and two errors.
Game 2: Mercy 3, Franklin Pierce 2
The game remained scoreless until the top of the fifth when Mercy scored three runs to take a 3-2 lead. Murphy walked with one out and stole second before Miller walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a fielder's choice made two outs in the inning, Perrone hit a three-run home run to center field, giving Mercy a 3-0 lead.
McSweeney held the Ravens scoreless until the seventh inning. The Ravens scored two runs with two outs to make it 3-2, but McSweeney induced a ground out to third, giving Mercy the 3-2 win, and their first-ever trip to the East Region Final.
Mercy was led by Perrone who went 1-for-3 with her second home run of the season and three RBI. Murphy and DeBruhl both went 1-for-3 and Jackson went 1-for-4. McSweeney allowed two runs and five hits to record her 11th win of the season and second win against the Ravens in two days.
Franklin Pierce was led by Andie Anderson who went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Brooke Koehler allowed three runs in 4.2 innings to take the loss.
Mercy had four hits and one error, and Franklin Pierce had five hits and one error.
Head Coach Jaime Lorenzo and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they face Assumption at 11 a.m. in the East Region Final at Franklin Pierce.
