Marauder Softball Sweeps Lakers to Improve to 12 Games Above .500

Sunday, April 21

Erie, PA

2 PM

Millersville University

27-16

Mercyhurst

18-23

Millersville

Mercyhurst

Marauder Softball Sweeps Lakers to Improve to 12 Games Above .500

4/21/2013 4:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Erie, Pa. – Typically when two great pitchers take the circle, it is known as a matchup of “dueling aces.” Sunday afternoon unfortunately for Mercyhurst, the Marauder softball team had aces dueling each other to see who could have the better start against the Lakers in the team's pair of wins by scores of 7-2 and 2-0, respectively.

Sarah Bertoni set the bar pretty high in game one, hurling a complete game three-hitter while allowing two unearned runs and two walks, striking out four. Bertoni's win puts her at 15-7, extending her record for wins by one pitcher in a season in program history, and the complete game was her 19^th. Couple Bertoni's spectacular outing with Stephanie Kulp's career day at the plate (3-for-4, home run, five RBI), and the road team walked away with a win in the opening game to extend the team's win streak to three.

For as good as the sophomore was in the opener, Brianna Andraos one-upped Bertoni in game two, rolling off a two-hit shutout with two walks and a strikeout. It was the freshman's sixth shutout of the season, and improved her to 10-5 on the year with 11 complete games. The win also extended Millersville's winning streak to four games and five of its last six after dropping six in a row.

The Lakers got off to a good start against Bertoni in the first game of the day, taking the lead in the fourth inning on a two-run single and Marauder fielding error. But Mercyhurst starter Megan Hopton, who held the Millersville offense scoreless through the first four frames, could not hold the lead given to her when she retook the circle for the top of the fifth, as the away team's offensive attack finally broke through.

The Marauders got a big run back on a Danielle DiFilippo single back through the box that scored Ginely Ortiz-Marrero. The big blow to Hopton came an inning later. Kulp, who has displayed power with more playing time this season, crushed her team-leading fifth homer of the year. Kulp's blast was a three-run shot that put Millersville in front 4-2, and that lead was all Bertoni needed.

The offense must have been in a giving mood, as it put three more cushioning runs on the board for its pitcher in the seventh. Ashley Cantiello singled home the team's fifth run of the game as the third batter of the inning. Then Kulp put the nail in the coffin of the Lakers, pushing a two-run base knock into left field to score Bertoni and Cantiello.

Andraos did not get as much run support as Bertoni, but didn't need much as she stifled the Mercyhurst bats. In fact, the rookie hurler got most all of her offensive help from junior third baseman Jamie Motsko, who went 2-for-2 with a walk and drove in both runs. Despite not getting as many runs of support, Andraos took the hill already with a lead after Motsko's RBI single in the top of the first inning brought home Danielle DiFilippo.

From that point, Andraos went toe-to-toe with Annie Truelove, who scattered just five Millersville hits and a walk across seven innings of work. Andraos got the better of the battle retiring Mercyhurst in order in three of her seven innings, and never allowed a runner to advance past first base. Motsko took care of the damage on the other end, plating an insurance run for Andraos in the sixth inning on a run-scoring double that allowed DiFilippo to cross home plate.

The pair of wins improve the team's record to 28-16 on the season, the most wins the team has had in a season since it reached the NCAA Atlantic Regional playoffs in 2006. That team finished 30-21 and had the most wins ever in one season in the history of the program. The 2013 edition of the Millersville softball team will look to tie that mark on Tuesday when it returns home to face Georgian Court for an evening matchup beginning at 4 p.m.