Softball Splits With Mercy
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (April 6, 2011) – The C.W. Post Pioneers scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh but could not pull off a comeback as they dropped the second game of their doubleheader to Mercy College, 6-5. C.W. Post, however, did rally back with two runs in the seventh to take the first game, 9-8.
C.W. Post improves its record to 18-6 overall and 6-2 in the East Coast Conference. Mercy improves its record to 8-13 overall and 2-6 in the ECC.
In the first game, the Mavericks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a pair of solo home runs from Kelly Bentson and Chelsea Methot.
The Pioneers matched the runs in the bottom half of the same inning, scoring on wild pitch and a fielder's choice.
Mercy went ahead 3-2 in the third when Jenna Ausiello singled down the right field line to score Courtney Butler from second.
The Pioneers claimed their first lead of the game in the sixth inning when junior second baseman Kendall Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) swatted out a first pitch, bases-loaded grand slam to right center to put the team ahead, 6-3.
Mercy was relentless at the plate and sliced the lead to one run in the fifth when Paige Cauley hit a two-run double to left field. The Mavericks added two more in the top half of the sixth when Bentson hit a two-run single to center.
C.W. Post tied the game up at 7-all, scoring a run in the sixth when freshman shortstop Nicole Fierro (East Hampton, N.Y.) singled to right field to score junior centerfielder Kerry Fisher (Barto, Pa.) from third.
Mercy continued its momentum in the seventh and scored one more run on a fielder's choice to lead 9-7 heading into the bottom half of the seventh.
It would take late inning heroics from freshman Angela Carmine (Westbury, N.Y.), who came in to pinch hit and ripped a two-run double to right center to plate the winning run.
Fisher led the Pioneer bats, going 2-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored.
Senior Christina Berardi (Raynham, Mass.) got the win in the circle after coming in in relief of junior Hayley Bettles (Surrey, British Columbia) in the sixth inning. Berardi allowed one run on two hits and a walk while striking out two. Senior starter Sarah Kiser (Arnold, Md.) pitched four and two thirds innings and gave up two earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. Bettles allowed two runs on one hit and a walk with one strikeout in two thirds innings pitched.
Mary Sieber was tagged with the loss after also coming in in relief to start the seventh. Freshman Tayla Gardner started the game and allowed six runs on three hits and nine walks with one strikeout in three and two thirds innings pitched.
Bentson was 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored for the Mavericks.
In game two, Mercy took another 2-0 lead in the top of the first after Methot belted a two-run shot over the fence in left center. The Mavericks added two more runs in the top of the fourth, this time when Cauley knocked out a two-run homer to put the visitors ahead, 4-0.
C.W. Post cut the lead in half with a pair of runs in the fourth when freshman shortstop Britney Agostini (Dover, Del.) hit her first collegiate home run to right field with Bright on first base. The Pioneers cut the lead to just one in the bottom of the fifth when sophomore first baseman Kaci Hopkins (New Egypt, N.J.) turned on an 0-1 pitch and hit a solo home run to left center.
The Pioneers could not contain the Mavericks as they pulled away in the top of the sixth with two more runs on a two-RBI single from Natalie Wagshinak.
C.W. Post continued to battle in the game as they scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh, beginning with an RBI ground out from Hopkins. The second run came when freshman left fielder
Carly Chamberlain (Nesco, N.J.) came home from third on a wild pitch. But the Pioneers could not score another run with runners on the corners as the Mavericks got out of the jam with a lineout to shortstop to end the inning.
Method was 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs score in the game. Sieber went the distance to earn the win, allowing three earned runs on nine hits with one strikeout.
Hopkins was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored while Agostini was 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
Berardi took the loss, allowing six runs on six hits and five walks while striking out 10.
C.W. Post returns to action on Thursday when it travels to take on conference leader, Dowling, at 3 p.m.