NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - The Mercyhurst softball team played games two and three of their series at Central Connecticut State. Yesterday CCSU beat MU 10-1 in five innings. The Blue Devils narrowly topped the Lakers in the first game today, 6-4, to secure the series. However, the second contest today was the most electric of the series. The Lakers were down 4-1 headed into the sixth and then tallied three home runs and seven runs to achieve an 8-6 victory. Six of those runs came in the top of the seventh.
Alexa North struck out 10 batters and
Braylynn Kelly recorded her first career home run.
Central Connecticut State (13-9, 8-0 NEC) scored in the first inning of game one and looked as though they might win how they did yesterday. Mercyhurst (2-18, 1-4 NEC) was already playing stronger today. In the second inning,
Braylynn Kelly reached on an error, and
Mackenzie Gillis drove her in with a single to right, tying the game.
In the fourth inning, CCSU took a commanding lead with a three-run inning, highlighted by a two-run homer. The score was now 4-1 after four innings. The Lakers responded in the fifth inning when
Alexandra Acosta-Reyes walked and later scored on a single by
Karlie Kasten. The score was 4-2. The Blue Devils extended their lead in the sixth with another two-run homer, bringing the score to 6-2.
In the seventh inning, the Lakers made a late push.
Neena Pietropaolo singled, and Kasten doubled, setting up
Emelie Pascual, who singled to drive in two runs. CCSU held them off and went on to win this one, 6-4.
In game two, Mercyhurst (3-18, 2-4 NEC) took an early lead in the first inning with Kasten scoring on a single by Kelly. The game remained stagnant for a while. North had five strikeouts after the first three innings, but neither team could capitalize on their hits.
Central Connecticut State (13-10, 8-1 NEC) finally got on the board in the fifth inning. They scored four runs, including a two-run homer, and took the lead. In the sixth inning,
Gabriella DeLuca hit a solo home run, marking her second homer of the season. This gave the Lakers hope of a comeback.
Mercyhurst then staged an emphatic comeback in the top of the seventh.
Jazlynn Sanders hit a two-run homer, followed by Kelly's three-run homer, which contributed to a total of six runs in the inning. This was Sanders second home run of the season. It was also Kelly's first career home run. This offensive surge gave the Lakers an 8-4 lead and were three outs away from victory.
The Blue Devils managed to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough to overcome the Lakers lead. Mercyhurst took game three, 8-6.
This was the second time this season the Lakers have recorded three home runs in one game. Their 12 hits were the most in a game since their 11-10 win over Le Moyne last season. North's 10 strikeouts marked the second time she has recorded 10 in a game. The first time was in an extra-inning win over Simon Fraser her freshman year.
The Lakers have a short turnaround for their next set of games as they host Youngstown State this Tuesday, March 31. Game one is set to begin at 3 p.m.
