ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst College softball team split its home season-opener today, March 30 against Lake Erie College. In bitter cold conditions the Lakers fell to the Storm 9-6 in the first game but managed to overpower their nonconference foe in game two, 13-5 (Five innings).
The first game was highlighted by two-homeruns by the Storm. Brittany Sostre hit a grand slam in the top of the third inning putting the Storm ahead, 5-2. Just one inning later Megan Foley of Lake Erie hit a three-run shot that would eventually prove to be enough to edge out the Lakers.
Mercyhurst made a late push in the bottom of the seventh inning scoring three runs, all coming off of a Courtney Smith homerun. The freshman has now hit three homeruns on the year, placing her in a tie for second place on the team. With the late rally the Lakers fell short suffering their 14th loss of the season. Junior Emily Redig led all Lakers with two hits while six teammates joined her in the hit category.
The Lakers avenged their earlier loss in game two after posting 13 runs off of 10 hits. Senior Michelle Schmitz and senior Amber Rapose both went 2-3 with Schmitz blasting a two-run shot during the third inning. Junior Sydney Cuscino went a perfect 2-2 and was one of four Lakers who registered a multi-hit game.
Senior Amanda Norman won her eighth game of the season after pitching four solid innings for the Lakers. She now holds an 8-4 record on the season heading into a doubleheader Friday, April 1 when Mercyhurst takes on conference rival Edinboro University. The Fighting Scots are 0-2 in the PSAC West conference and 9-6 overall this season.
The two teams collide at Mercyhurst Field Friday, April 1 at 2:30 p.m.
