Mavericks Sweep Barons

Senior Mary Price was clutch all afternoon, going (4-6) with (5) RBI and (5) runs scored.

Softball takes two from Franciscan

BUFFALO, NY – The Mavericks of Medaille College returned to action at home against the Barons of Franciscan University in an AMCC Conference twin bill.  The Mavericks head into play looking to solidify their spot in the playoffs and compete for a conference title.  The bats were hot all day for the Mavericks and they were able get two key conference wins, topping Franciscan (15-6) and (9-8).

The Barons were able to get on the board early in game one as they pushed a run across in the top half of the first inning.  Their inning came to an abrupt end when they batted out of order and had to concede an out that ended the inning.  Medaille was able to respond immediately scoring four runs of their own in the bottom half of the first inning.

The Mavericks were able to close out the game early only needing (4.5) innings to build a (9) run
lead.  It was a total team effort as Medaille was able to record (16) hits and (10) different Mavs had at least one hit in the game.  Leading the way was Mary Price (Kenmore,NY, Kenmore West) and Megan Owens (Conneaut Lake, PA, Conneaut Lake).  The pair of seniors were both able to tally (2) hits and combined for (4) runs scored and (5) RBIs to lead the offensive attack.

On the mound Cortney Carroccia (Buffalo, NY, Immaculata) earned her fourth win of the season throwing (5) innings and striking out (4) Franciscan batters in the shortened game.

Game two was a battle from the start, as Franciscan once again got on the board early. Taking advantage of some early Maverick miscues, the Barons got two runners across to jump out to a quick (2-0) advantage.

Medaille got one run back in the second, when freshman Megan Hassenbohler (Alden, NY, Alden) hit an RBI single to score Price from third and cut the Baron lead in half. The very next inning Medaille got their first lead of game two off the bat of sophomore Lauren Kocher (Alden, NY, Alden), who smacked an RBI triple to score senior Amanda Mesi (Lackawana, NY, Lackawana) and junior Morgan Ziemba (Lancaster, NY, Lancaster) to put the Mavs up (3-2).

Price immediately brought Kocher home with an RBI single, and advanced to second on a throwing error by the left fielder to get into scoring position.  After a wild pitch moved her to third, Price scored on a Hassenbohler single through the left side to give Medaille its largest lead of the game at (5-2).

It stayed like that until the fifth when the Baron bats heated up. Franciscan put up six runs in the top half of the fifth, making the Mavericks once again play from behind.

The pressure didn't faze the blue and gold, as once again Price and Hassenbohler delivered some clutch hits with runners in scoring position to tie the game at eight. The drama continued to build until the two sides found themselves playing some extra softball heading into the eighth inning.

The Barons went down in order in the top half of the eighth, and Medaille looked to ber headed for the same after the first two batters failed to reach base. However, a single up the middle from Mesi kept hope alive and a passed ball got her in scoring position with Ziemba at the dish.

The junior who came into today's games with the highest batting average on the team did not disappoint, smacking as single to left that scored the game-winning run.

Hassenbohler finished game two going (2-3) with (3) RBI; Ziemba went (3-5) with (1) run scored, (1) RBI and the game-winning hit; Kocher ended the game (2-4) with (2) RBI and (2) runs scored; and Price finished with (2) hits, (3) runs scored, and (2) RBI.

Senior Amanda Mesi came on in relief and pitched (2.2) innings of no hit ball for her (10) win of the season.

The walk-off improves Medaille to (14-12) overall and (7-7) in conference play, as they get ready to host non-conference foe Alfred State today at McCarthy Park. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm.

Recap, photo courtesy of Medaille College