NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. - The Mercyhurst softball team played their final nonconference series at Niagara this afternoon. This is the first time these two sides have played in 36 years. The Lakers came into this series with a 6-2 record vs. them all time. In both games the Lakers had more hits or matched Niagara in hits. However, the Purple Eagles captilized on their chances, and took both games, 6-3 and 5-3, respectively. Notably, two Laker freshmen hit home runs.
Avarie Mays hit her fourth home run of the season and her second in two days.
Gabriella DeLuca hit her eight home run of the season.
Mercyhurst (9-30, 8-13 NEC) almost got things right away in game one. In the first inning, DeLuca doubled, but she was left stranded as the Lakers failed to score. Niagara (7-31, 5-19 MAAC) took the lead in the bottom of the first after their runner scored on a throwing error. In the third frame, the Lakers managed to get on the board.
Alexandra Acosta-Reyes singled, followed by a single from
Shailene Riemedio.
Jazlynn Sanders singled, driving in Riemedio and cutting the deficit. However, the Purple Eagles responded with a two-run homer to extend their lead to three.
During the fifth stanza, Mercyhurst narrowed the gap with a two-run homer by DeLuca, bringing in Riemedio. This was DeLuca's eighth home run of the season. This effort brought the score to 5-3. In the sixth inning, Niagara added another run with a sacrifice fly. The Lakers were unable to alter the scoreline in the subsequent innings, and the first game concluded with a final score of 6-3 in favor of Niagara.
The second game was just as close as the first one. Both sides held each other in the first frame. In the second inning, Mercyhurst (9-31, 8-13 NEC) opened the scoring. Mays stepped up to the plate and launched a home run to right field. This was her second home run in two days.
Alana Stuart was in the circle and held off Niagara (8-31, 5-19 MAAC) off as long as she could. The Purple Eagles eventually responded in the fourth inning, capitalizing with a double and a single that brought in two runs to overturn the lead.
The fifth inning saw Niagara extend its lead with a two-run single to make it 4-1. The Lakers had yet to respond as Niagara added another run in the bottom of the sixth on an error. In the seventh frame, the Lakers attempted a comeback. Riemedio reached on an error and later scored on a RBI groundout by Mays.
Jazlynn Sanders delivered an RBI single, bringing Mercyhurst within two runs. That was all the Lakers could salvage as their comeback came to a halt. Niagara won this game, 5-3, and completed the series sweep.
The Lakers will play their final regular season series of the season at LIU this upcoming weekend. The first two games are set for 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 2. The series finale will take place at noon the following day.
