Bridgeport, Conn. – Powered by sophomore Alexi Benson (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) allowing just one run, the Mercy College softball team earned a 2-1 win over ECC foe University of Bridgeport in Game One of the Best-of-Three Series in the ECC Softball Championship Semifinal on Friday afternoon.
The Mavericks (17-12) have now won four of five against the Purple Knights (18-7) this season. Mercy needs one win tomorrow to advance to the final next week.
Benson allowed just one run on six hits and had seven strikeouts to earn her ninth win of the season. Juniors Alexis Crawford (Hemet, Calif./West Valley High) and Ylannah Bowman (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) went 1-for-3 and senior Hannah Mueller (Fair Oaks, Calif./Bella Vista) went 1-for-3. Senior Casey Akers (Keller, Texas/Timber Creek) went 1-for-2 and sophomore Sydney Johnston (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) recorded an RBI.
Bridgeport was led by Meg McFarland who went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Kaite Burawski pitched a complete game with nine strikeouts to take the loss.
The game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth when Mercy scored two runs to take a 2-0 lead. Mueller singled and advanced to third after senior Danielle Burgos (Calexico, Calif./Arizona Western College) reached on an error and advanced to second. Mueller then scored on a passed ball and Burgos moved to third. Johnston then plated Burgos with a groundout to shortstop to make it 2-0.
It remained 2-0 until the bottom of the seventh when Bridgeport plated a run to make it 2-1. However, following McFarland's RBI single, Grace Derita was thrown out trying to advance to third to end the game.
Mercy resumes action tomorrow when they play at Bridgeport starting at 12 p.m. Game two will take place at 12 p.m. and if game three is necessary that will take place at approximately 2 p.m.
Provided by the Mercy Sports Information Department.
