WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The Mercyhurst softball team traveled to New Haven for the first meeting in both program's history. In game one, the Chargers' defense was on fire as they shutout the Lakers, 4-0. In game two, MU had their bats ready as they smashed three home runs, recorded 13 hits, and took game two, 10-5. Notably,
Gabriella DeLuca recorded six RBIs for the second consecutive week and was the winning pitcher.
Mercyhurst (7-26, 6-10 NEC) and
Alexa North started out strong in game one. North struck out a pair of batters. However, New Haven (8-29, 6-13 NEC) began the same way. The first three frames remained scoreless for both sides. The Lakers recorded their first hit in the third when
Alexandra Acosta-Reyes doubled. She was then tagged out attempting to reach third base.
In the fourth stanza, the Chargers capitalized with a four-run surge. They hit two singles, setting the stage for a three-RBI double to right center. An additional RBI single brought the score to 4-0 in favor of New Haven by the end of the fourth.
MU managed to get runners on base in the fifth inning, highlighted by singles from
Avarie Mays and
Shailene Riemedio, but they were unable to score. The sixth inning saw
Bailey Cannon reach on a walk and a single from
Jazlynn Sanders, yet the team left two runners on base without scoring again.
In the final inning, Riemedio singled, but they could score as the Charger's defense continued to show out. New Haven secured the win in game one, 4-0.
In the first inning of game two, Riemedio reached first on an error and later scored on DeLuca's RBI single. This gave Mercyhurst (8-26, 7-10 NEC) an early lead. However, New Haven (8-20, 6-14 NEC) responded with two runs to take a 2-1 lead by the end of the inning.
The second frame saw the Lakers take control as Mays hit a solo home run. This marked her second home run of the season.
Braylynn Kelly added to the scoring after she hit a singel to shortstop and eventually stole home. Cannon,
Emelie Pascual, and Riemedio all got on base with DeLuca now batting. She smashed a double to right center, cleared the bases, and recorded a three-RBI double to extend the lead.
In the third frame, Kelly singled and eventually scored on an error by the left fielder, pushing the lead to 7-2 in favor of MU.
The sixth inning featured more offensive firepower from the Lakers. DeLuca hit a two-run homer, and Sanders followed with a solo shot of her own, furthering the lead to 10-2. Although the Chargers added three runs in the bottom of the sixth, DeLuca and the Laker's defense held them off and secured the win in game two, 10-5.
Game three will take place at noon tomorrow. Viewers can find the games streamed on the NEC Front Row.
