By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, OH---Amanda Sinay made her collegiate pitching debut as the No. 16 Express softball team lost a pair of games to No. 15 Mercyhurst North East CC today.
Game 1: No. 15 Mercyhurst NE 10 Owens 5
The Saints jumped out to a 5-0 lead through three innings, while the Express scored four times in the seventh inning, in today's first game.
Express starter Katilyn Turski took the complete game loss for the Express. She allowed 10 hits, 10 runs (six earned) and four walks while striking out six in seven innings of work.
Down 5-0, the Express got on the board in the fourth when Emily Rockman singled up the middle, stole second and scored one out later on a triple from Alyssa Lassey.
The Saints scored one run apiece in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 7-1 lead. Then, the two teams combined for seven runs in the final inning.
After the Saints scored three runs in the top half, the Express scored four times with two outs. Olivia Reeder delivered an RBI single to open the scoring, while Taylor Miller followed with a two-run double to left field. Rockman closed the scoring with an RBI double to center.
Melanie Iacoangeli (2-for-4, run), Rockman (2-for-4, run, RBI) and Jaylee Glad (2-for-3, run) led the Express offense with two hits apiece. Alex Puckly led the Saints with a 2-for-2, one run, four RBI game.
Ronette Claar tossed the complete game for Mercyhurst to pick up the win. She allowed 11 hits, five runs and one walk while striking out 13.
Game 2: Mercyhurst 9 Owens 1 (5 Innings)
Puckly's dynamite day offensively carried over to the mound in game two as she limited the Express offense to five hits over five innings, while picking up four more RBIs at the plate.
On the other side, Sinay, a sophomore outfielder, made her collegiate pitching debut for the Express, who were operating with a short staff.
Sinay threw a scoreless first, which included getting her first strikeout, but the Saints scored three in the second and two more in the third to break open the game.
In the bottom half of the third, Sinay helped her own cause with an RBI single to center that scored Reeder, who had tripled with two outs.
Mercyhurst added three more runs in the fifth, although two were unearned, for the final margin.
Sinay led the Express offense with a 2-for-3, one RBI performance, while Puckly went 1-for-2 with two runs and four RBIs.
Sinay's final line included five innings, eight hits, nine runs (six earned) and three walks, along with two strikeouts. Puckly's final line included five innings, five hits, one run, two walks and five strikeouts.
Notes
The Express are now 12-8 overall this year, while Mercyhurst improves to 21-5 overall.
The Express will travel to Lakeland Community College on Wednesday for a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader, which will mark the beginning of OCCAC play.
