Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - The Mercyhurst University softball team dropped a pair of contests on Thursday afternoon at Barry University, extending the Lakers' skid to five straight after starting the season with a 5-2 record. Mercyhurst dropped the first game of the doubleheader by a 5-0 final and then lost a 4-2 decision in the nightcap. Mercyhurst dropped to 5-7 overall while the Buccaneers improved to 11-5 on the season.

Barry did all of its damage in the first game in the first inning off Laker starter, senior Megan Hopton (4-3). The Buccaneers loaded the bases on singles by Natalia Ojeda, Sarah Broeseker, and Paula Mackin with two outs. Ashley Fernandez delivered two runs with a single up the middle and Kelly Martinez followed with a two-run double to the gap in left-center. Martinez swiped third and came home when no one covered third and freshman Taylor Jezuit's throw went down the line in left.

Alexis Yohe (4-2) made the runs stand up, scattering four hits in a complete-game shutout. She walked three and struck out three. Hopton took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and a walk in two innings.

Freshman Chelsea Calabro was sensational in relief, allowing three hits in four innings. She walked two and struck out two in what was her second outing of the season.

Junior Courtney Smith had three of Mercyhurst's four hits in game one, going a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish. Freshman Allison Yule had the other hit for the Lakers.

In game two, the Buccaneers jumped out in front in the second inning as pinch runner Christal Cruz trotted home on a groundball to short by Megan Copeland. Cruz pinch ran for Camille Czarnecki, who singled and then advanced to second on a wild pitch.

Mercyhurst would tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the third. Junior Kayleigh Milliman reached on a leadoff walk and then was sacrificed to second by senior Kristen Fyffe. After Jezuit grounded out to second, advancing Milliman to third, Yule hit a grounder to short that was booted by Ojeda, allowing Milliman to score.

But, Barry would score three times in the bottom of the third to take a 4-1 advantage. The big blow in the frame was a two-run double by Martinez.

Mercyhurst got a run in the top of the seventh to make things interesting. Fyffe led off the inning with a triple down the right field line. After a pair of groundouts could not bring Fyffe home, senior Molly McNamara walked to put the tying run at the plate in the form of Courtney Smith. Smith, who leads the team with a .683 slugging percentage, did come through with a base hit to drive home Fyffe. But, the Laker rally would come to an end after sophomore Shaina Bunker grounded out.

Sophomore Annie Truelove was saddled with the loss, dropping to 1-3 on the season. She allowed four runs on seven hits in three innings. She walked three and did not strike out a batter. Calabro again came on in relief and slammed the door shut on the Barry offense, allowing three hits in three innings.

Czarnecki got the win for Barry, allowing four Mercyhurst hits in the complete game. She walked four and struck out two.

Courtney Smith and Fyffe each had two hits in the game two loss.

Mercyhurst will look to snap its five-game losing streak and give head coach Sara Headley her 200th career win at Mercyhurst on Friday afternoon with a doubleheader at Palm Beach Atlantic. The games, which were originally scheduled to be played on Wednesday, are scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.