LORETTO, Pa. - The Mercyhurst softball team played a doubleheader vs. Saint Francis this afternoon to finish the midweek series between the two sides. Yesterday, the Lakers hit five home runs and run-ruled the Red Flash, 16-5. Today, SFU took secured a come-from-behind win, 10-6, in the first game. In the second game,
Gabriella DeLuca hit a SAC fly and then a three-run home run that was the eventual game-winner. She also pitched a complete game as the Lakers won, 4-2.
Mercyhurst (6-21, 5-7 NEC) started strong in the first inning of the first game with
Karlie Kasten tripling to right center. This was followed by
Emelie Pascual's RBI bunt single that brought in Kasten. Pascual later scored on a wild pitch, giving the Lakers a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
In the second inning, the Lakers added two more runs.
Alexandra Acosta-Reyes singled and eventually scored on a hit-by-pitch RBI by
Bailey Cannon. Kasten scored on a subsequent wild pitch, extending their lead to four. Saint Francis (3-31-1, 3-19 NEC) responded in their half with five runs. They got their bats going and took their first lead of the day.
After a scoreless third inning for Mercyhurst, the Red Flash added two more runs, increasing its lead to 7-4. The fourth and fifth frames were quiet. Both defenses held each other off and neither offense could score.
In the sixth stanza, Mercyhurst closed the gap when Pascual hit a two-run homer, bringing in Kasten, and the score was now 7-6. However, SFU responded with three runs in their half of the sixth, pushing their lead to 10-6 and securing the win in game one of the day.
In game two, the Lakers took the lead in the second inning.
Jazlynn Sanders reached on a fielding error, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on
Gabriella DeLuca's sacrifice fly, giving the Lakers a 1-0 lead.
The fourth inning saw the Lakers extend its lead.
Braylynn Kelly reached on an error and stole second. Sanders singled, advancing Kelly to third. DeLuca then hit a three-run homer, bringing the score to 4-0.
In the fifth inning, Saint Francis scored its first run. Here, the Red Flash doubled and later scored on a groundout, narrowing the score to 4-1. Saint Francis added another run in the seventh inning with a solo home run, but Mercyhurst's defense held them off, even with the bases loaded. The final game of this series ended with a 4-2 win for the Lakers.
Mercyhurst will host FDU in their next series beginning Saturday, April 11.
