Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Lakewood, N.J.- Playing its third doubleheader in as many days, the Georgian Court University softball squad looked as energized as ever Monday vs. Mercy College as the Lions earned a berserk 13-11 victory in the day's opening contest. The visiting Mavericks (15-5) secured a much tidier 5-3 victory in the nightcap to solidify the sweep.

GAME ONE

A triple and corresponding sacrifice fly immediately gave the Mavericks a 1-0 lead after the first two batters of the game. The Lions answered back in thunderous fashion as Mikaela Power (2-for-4, 2 R) launched a grand slam in the home half of the frame to give GCU a 4-1 lead. The blast, which cascaded off the top of the left-center field fence before skipping over, marked the first dinger of the sophomore's collegiate career.

Both teams plated a run apiece in both the second and third innings before a wacky fourth frame that witnessed 11 total runs turned the scoreboard on its ear. The Mavericks brought around five runs on four hits in the top before GCU countered with six runs on six hits in the home half.

With the home team holding a 12-8 surplus after four full, Mercy made things interesting with three in the visiting fifth to slice the deficit to just one (12-11). Sweet-swinging senior, Kelly Hardiman, would add a key insurance run in the bottom of the fifth for the Lions with a ribbie double, securing GCU's 10th win of the season (10-22).

Hardiman had quite the day as the Howell, N.J. native not only went 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs, three RBI and a home run (5th of season) in the victory, but also smashed her 100th career base hit (first-inning single) AND earned the win in the circle for the Lions. Hardiman (1-1) came in relief of starter Taylor Baloga in the fourth inning and became the pitcher of record when the Lions took the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning.

Thanks to the bizarreness of softball statistics, Baloga came back in to relieve Hardiman in the fifth inning to earn the SAVE in a game that she started, her second save of the season. McKaily Cusumano (So.-Monroe, Mich.) suffered the loss for Mercy.

In a box score already busting at the seams, Samantha Reilly went 1-for-3 with three runs, three RBI, and her sixth long ball of the year. Breanna Keelan registered a 2-for-3 effort with a run, ribbie, and triple. 

GAME TWO

In the nightcap, the Lions struck first in the bottom of the second, thanks to a Bryanna Smith RBI single to left-center. The Mavericks responded in the top of the fourth as an unearned run and a two-run homer from Skania Lemus (Jr.-Chula Vista, Calif.) put the road team ahead 3-1. Mercy pitcher, Kendall Meeks (Fr.-Guysville, Ohio), sealed the win for herself in the fifth as the freshman blasted a solo home run to dead center to increase the lead to 4-1.

A two-run double to left-center from Keelan (1-for-4) inched the Lions to within 5-3 in the seventh, but that would mark the end of the GCU comeback.

Meeks (2-1) earned the complete-game victory for Mercy (7.0 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 8 H, 5 K, 2 K) while Savannah Wilkerson (0-1) was saddled with the defeat (6.1 IP, 5 R, 1 ER, 8 H, 2 BB).

Smith enjoyed a three-hit performance atop the Georgian Court lineup, boosting the senior's batting average to .322 on the season.

The Lions return to CACC action this Wednesday as they travel to #25 Caldwell University this Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.