JERSEY CITY, NJ– The Saint Peter's softball team (6-27, 3-16 MAAC) concluded its series with Merrimack (8-23, 6-12 MAAC), falling 14-6 Sunday afternoon at Jaroschak Field on Family Day.
Morgan Lipansky made her second start of the weekend, striking out seven batters over three innings while allowing three earned runs on two hits.
Brielle Coppola (1-9) was credited with the loss in relief, surrendering five earned runs on four hits.
Despite the result, the Peacocks totaled 12 hits, including three doubles, with four players recording multi-hit performances.
Kiana Kadena Matsuda, Paige Seemon, Carlee Charles, and
Angela Tremarco each went 2-for-4.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Merrimack opened the scoring early in the first, capitalizing on a pair of walks and a one-out single to left to take a 1-0 lead.
Morgan Lipansky recorded three strikeouts in the opening frame to limit the damage.
Lipansky added a pair of strikeouts in both the second and third innings, accounting for seven of the first nine outs via strikeout, along with a groundout to the pitcher and a flyout to center.
The Peacocks provided offensive support in the bottom of the third with a three-run frame. A pair of doubles from
Danni Forrester and
Kiana Kadena Matsuda tied the game at one apiece.
Paige Seemon beat out an infield single, and
Carlee Charles followed with a single to center to drive in Matsuda. A Warrior error allowed another run to score, extending the Peacocks' lead to 3-1.
Merrimack responded in the fourth with a leadoff home run to cut the deficit to 3-2. A pitching change brought in
Brielle Coppola, but a pair of hits and back-to-back walks gave the Warriors a 4-3 lead.
A single to right field drove in two more runs, a Peacock error extended the lead to 7-3, and a double pushed Merrimack ahead 8-3 before Saint Peter's recorded the first out of the inning.
In the bottom half,
Lauren Czerwinski led off with a double, and
Hannah Klotz drove her in following a Warrior fielding error. Kadena Matsuda followed with a single up the middle to bring home Klotz, cutting the deficit to 8-5.
The Warriors added two more in the seventh off a leadoff double, a Peacock error, and a single to extend the lead to 14-5.
The Peacocks looked to respond in the final frame, as back-to-back singles from Charles and
Olivia Christopher put runners on first and second. With one out,
Angelina Wagner singled to left-center to drive in pinch runner
Aine Curley, but an infield fly and a groundout ended the game, securing the series for Merrimack.
UP NEXT
The Peacocks return home for the last time in April to host Wagner in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday, April 14, at Jaroschak Field. Game one is scheduled for 1 p.m., with game two to follow at 3 p.m. Both contests will be streamed on Peacock Digital Network.
For continuing coverage of Saint Peter's University Athletics, visit SaintPetersPeacocks.com and follow the Peacocks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
