Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Mercyhurst University softball team split with Lynn University to kick off their Spring Break series.  The Lakers took game one 4-2 after a three-run homer by sophomore Becky Malaga, then fell 4-3 after a walk-off single by the Fighting Knights.  Senior Kristen Fyffe led the Lakers by going 4-for-6 at the plate throughout the two game series.
 
Mercyhurst scored four unanswered runs before Lynn had the chance to answer back in the seventh.  The Lakers were up 3-0 after Malaga tallied her first homerun of the season during a two-out rally.  Malaga drove in seniors Molly McNamara and Amanda Walker after they reached base earlier in the inning.
 
With two outs in the fifth, Malaga singled to left field and was pinch run for by Tawny Godin.  Kayleigh Milliman advanced Godin to second on her own outfield single to put a runner in scoring position.  Fyffe followed suit by driving the ball to right field and advanced Godin home for an RBI.  The Lakers were up 4-0 heading into the final two innings of the game.
 
Mercyhurst's defense protected the dish until the seventh inning.  Two unearned runs cut the lead in half with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.  Anne Marie Van Casteren lined to second baseman Courtney Brothers who snagged the ball out of mid-air to end the contest. 
 
Mercyhurst finished with eleven hits, four runs and only one strike out on the offensive side.  Senior Megan Hopton (4-0) led the defense on the mound, pitching all seven innings allowing six hits, only one walk, and one strikeout.
 
The excitement did not stop in game two, as Lynn tallied the first run in the bottom of the first, carrying momentum from the last contest.  The Fighting Knights combined three hits in the first inning, and drove in McNeil after back to back singles by both Kaci Vassallo and Devin Krochergen. 
 
Both teams remained defensively strong until Lynn broke down, giving the Lakers an offensive opportunity.  Taylor Jezuit doubled to left field and was advanced to third off of McNamara's sacrifice bunt.  Allison Yule then pinch hit and drew the walk to give Megan Smith an opportunity with two runners on. Smith put the ball in play, which the Fighting Knights made an error on, and Jezuit crossed home safely. Junior Courtney Smith followed suit, reaching on an error, which plated Yule.
 
The Lakers were up 2-1 heading into the seventh after another solid defensive bottom of the sixth.  In the top of the seventh, Jezuit contributed her lone RBI of the day after driving in Milliman, who advanced to third on an error. 
 
Lynn had a late rally in the seventh, as the Lakers and pitcher sophomore Annie Truelove could not hold on to the lead. The sophomore gave up four hits and three runs in the bottom of the seventh, with the winning run scoring after Lynn's Kasey Murray singled down the left field line to mark her only hit of the game and the winning RBI with two outs. The big blow was a two-run single by Vassallo.
 
Truelove (1-2) allowed 10 hits, while walking two and striking out two in 6.2 innings pitched.   
 
The Lakers are now 5-3-0 overall this season and have picked up their third straight double-header split.  Mercyhurst will face Nova Southeastern University for a double header on Tuesday, February 26 at 5:00 p.m.