MYRTLE BEACH, SC – The Mercyhurst University softball team won two games Friday morning in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Lakers went on to defeat West Liberty in game one, 4-1, and handled Glenville State in game two, 13-2.
In game one against West Liberty University, the Lakers soured away a bases loaded opportunity in the bottom of the first, to end the inning scoreless.
The bats would come back alive in the second when
Allison Yule recorded a stand up triple, scoring
Shannon Minihane. A single by
Becky Malaga would generate another run in the bottom of the inning, to make it a 2-0 Lakers lead going into the top of the third.
Singles by
Rachel DiBartolomeo and Minihane sparked the bottom of the third. Mercyhurst would see another run come across the plate in the inning to take a 3-0 advantage.
With starting pitcher
Annie Truelove in trouble in the top of the fourth, the Lakers defense turned a 6-3-5 double-play.
Meghan Maranto, Yule, and Minihane connected for the defensive play to end the inning.
With the Lakers holding on to 4-0 lead in the top of the fifth, Truelove again got out of a jam to hold the Hilltoppers scoreless through five. Mercyhurst brought in freshman left handed pitcher
Heather Nye to relive Truelove in the sixth. Nye recorded her first career strikeout in the top of the sixth.
West Liberty would get a run on the board in the top of the seventh on a passed ball, but the Lakers were able to outlast the Hilltoppers for the 4-1 victory,
Truelove improved her record to 3-3 while Nye recorded her first save.
Yule, Minihane, Dibartolomeo and
Becky Malaga each had an RBI, as Mercyhurst improved to 4-7.
During game two, a huge bottom of the fourth opened up an 11 run advantage, 13-2. Minihane singled and
Courtney Brothers walked to put two runners on. Malaga followed with a single that brought around both runners. A fielder's choice would bring another two runners around to score while Malaga added another RBI single. DiBartolomeo finished off the inning with a two-run homerun.
Alexandra Puckly,
Taylor Jezuit and Maranto all added RBI singles in the inning.
Puckly pitched all five innings, improving her record to 2-3.
The Lakers bring their record to 5-7 after the conclusion of both games today.
Box scores from today's games can be viewed at a later date.
Mercyhurst will be back in action tomorrow beginning at 9:30 a.m. against Glenville State. They will follow game one with another matchup against West Liberty at 11:30 p.m.
