MERCYHURST (8-27, 7-11 NEC) vs. LE MOYNE (12-29, 9-9 NEC)
Saturday, April 25 – 1/3 p.m.
Sunday, April 26 – 12 p.m. 
Erie, Pa.   
TV: NEC Front Row 
 
Mercyhurst softball is set to host Le Moyne for their final home series of the year. The Lakers enter the game tied for fifth place in the NEC with an identical 7-11 NEC record to FDU. The Dolphins currently hold a playoff spot in fourth. Their 9-9 conference record puts them ahead of FDU and MU by two games. This series will prove to pivotal for several teams trying to make the NEC tournament. 
 
The first two games of this series will take place Saturday, April 25 at 1 and 3 p.m. The series finale will take place at noon the following day. Viewers can find the games live streamed on the NEC Front Row. 
 
*Please stay tuned to social media in event of any weather delays/time changes. 
 
Last Few Weeks on the Diamond
Inclement weather spreading across the northeast region has given the Lakers some much needed rest. Just a few weeks ago, they played eight games in nine days. In that span, they went 3-5, picking up three conference wins to aid their playoff push. 
 
On April 15, they had to cancel their reverse doubleheader with Youngstown State due to thunderstorms in Erie. They returned to the diamond this past weekend for their inaugural series at New Haven on April 18. The Chargers won game one, 4-0, and MU won game two, 10-5. The series finale was then pushed to Monday due to weather. New Haven put up eight unanswered runs in an 8-2 win. The Lakers' series at Oakland was postponed from these schedule changes. 
 
For the first time since Spring break in the beginning of March, Mercyhurst heads into this series with five days off from any contests. 
 
16-Run Riot
The last time Mercyhurst put up 16 runs in a game was in a win vs. UPJ in 2024. Now, they achieved that feat twice in five days vs. the likes of SFU and FDU. In the SFU game, MU beat them 16-5 in game one where they tallied some impressive stat lines. In terms of NEC highs (at the time), the Lakers had 35 total bases (1st), five home runs (2nd), and 16 runs (5th). Individually, Jazlynn Sanders' two home runs were tied for the most in one game and Braylynn Kelly's four hits were second highest. The Red Flash won game two and the Lakers won game three. 
 
Matchup Insights
Mercyhurst is 2-6 vs. Le Moyne all time. The two sides first met in 2016 when they were both in Division II. This late-April doubleheader in Syracuse was entirely split. The Dolphins won game won, 8-1, and the Lakers won game two, 9-1, in six innings. 
 
The second meeting between the two was a doubleheader in Erie. Le Moyne narrowly won 3-2 in the first game and then comfortably won game two, 9-0. This marked the final time these two sides would play at the D-2 level. 

Le Moyne jumped to Division I in 2023 and Mercyhurst in 2024. The two sides met for the first time in the NEC last season toward the end of April in Syracuse. The Dolphins won game one, 9-1 in five innings. The second game was the most electric of any contests between these two. The Lakers hit five home runs and won a thriller, 11-10. Lauren Henrich hit two home runs and recorded a career-high five RBIs. Alexa North and Karlie Kasten also went yard. The Dolphins then took game three, 4-1. 

Bray K, Few K's
Kelly has been one of the most consistent hitters for Mercyhurst. In 81 at bats, the Whittaker, Michigan native has 38 total bases, 31 hits, 16 runs, 14 RBIs, a batting average of .383, an OPS of .907, and a slugging percentage of .469. She is 11 for 13 on stolen base attempts. Notably, Kelly hit a three-run blast in an 8-6 win at CCSU. This was the first home run of her career. Her batting average puts her at first on the team and fifth in the NEC. 

DeLuca Delivers
Gabriella DeLuca has made waves in her rookie season. She is among the best pitchers in the NEC standings right now. She currently leads the conference with the fewest hits allowed (68) and runs allowed (49). Her 42 earned runs allowed are second. The Erie native has the 13th-lowest ERA (.598) and the tenth-lowest opposing batting average (.324). 
 
DeLuca had an incredible performance vs. SFU a few weeks ago. She pitched a complete game with four strikeouts and two earned runs. In the same game, she hit a SAC fly and a three-run home run to secure a 4-2 win for the Lakers. 
 
In the same week, she recorded six RBIs in the 16-2 win vs. FDU. Her 30 RBIs lead the team and are currently fourth in the NEC. There are currently just six players with an OPS above 1.000, and DeLuca is one of them (1.013). 

Prime Performers
So far, Sanders (2x), DeLuca (4x), and Kasten (2x) have earned NEC weekly awards.  
 
DeLuca had a stellar weekend in S.C that began her collegiate career in style. In this tournament, the Erie native had a .333 batting average, two runs, two RBIs, three hits, and a two-run moon shot in just nine at bats. She then was named the NEC Rookie of the Week and a Prime Performer for her tremendous week vs. SFU and FDU. Most recently, she earned her third Prime Performer award for recording eight RBIs, six hits, four doubles, two runs, and two home runs in 13 at bats. In one of those games, she recorded six RBIs in a 10-5 win vs. New Haven. 
 
Sanders earned her first Prime Performer award from the Hawaii tournament. Sanders had five hits, five RBIs, and she went yard in one of the games vs. Hawaii. Her second award came after the Stonehill series, where she tallied four hits and four RBIs. This included a go-ahead three-run home run in a 5-3 win in game one. 
 
Kasten, in four games and 13 at-bats vs. RMU, had nine hits, two RBIs, two stolen bases, one double, one run, total batting average of .377. She also recorded a fielding percentage of 1.000 and made seven catches from center field. Her best game of this four-game series was in game two, where she went four-for-four.  She then had a big week from the plate vs. SFU and FDU. In 24 at bats, Kasten recorded 10 hits, nine runs, and four RBIs. 
 
Le Moyne Report Card

• The Dolphins are 12-29 overall and 9-9 in the NEC. They currently hold the fourth spot in the NEC standings. 
• Their first win came in their third contest of the year in the Blue Hose Invitational at Presbyterian. They played Morehead State and won a slug fest, 19-16. 
• They lost to a few similar opponents as Mercyhurst, such as Presbyterian, Youngstown State, Kent State and Robert Morris. 
• Their only other nonconference wins came at the Longwood Spring Break Classic. Here, they defeated Lafayette, 3-1 and 6-2. 
• To open NEC play, Le Moyne was swept by LIU. 
• Things changed in the next series, where they took two of three at New Haven. In fact, the Dolphins won two games in series vs. SFU, FDU, and Stonehill. 
• Most recently, St. Bonaventure swept Le Moyne in a non-conference doubleheader. 
• Audrey Benderski appears to be their best hitter. In 113 at bats, she has 63 total bases, 36 hits, 29 RBIs 21 runs, six home runs, a batting average of .319, an OPS of .975, and a slugging percentage of .558. Almost all of these statistics lead the team, and her OPS is eighth in the NEC. 
• From the circle, Isabella Kwashek leads the way. Her .380 ERA leads the team and is sixth in the NEC. Her opposing batting average is .291, which also leads the team and is fifth in the NEC.