Source: Hometown Life

Author: Dan O'Meara

It was a good opening day for Farmington Hills Mercy’s softball team Wednesday and a rough first day for host Farmington.

The Marlins took it to the Falcons with a potent hitting attack and notched a pair of one-sided victories, 13-3 in seven innings and 18-3 in four.

Andrea Elmore pitched a five-hitter in a complete first game, striking out a dozen batters and issuing just one walk.

Mercy’s Sophia VanAcker went 4-for-5 and scored four runs. Following a flyout to center field in her first at-bat, she had four consecutive hits, one being a double.

Abby Krzywiecki and Elmore were 3-for-5. Krzywiecki knocked in three runs and Elmore one.

Megan Satawa and Anna Dixon had two hits and two RBI apiece for the Marlins, who were state semifinalists last year. Shannon Gibbons also chipped in two hits and Cari Padula two RBI.

The Falcons had a 3-2 lead until Mercy scored four runs in the fifth inning, added one in the sixth and finished with a six-run seventh.

Krzywiecki and Dixon hit two-run singles in the seventh. Padula doubled to drive in another run.

Kennedy Rogers hit a three-run homer to put Farmington ahead early. Danielle Petra was 2-for-3. Robyn Banks struck out nine and walked one but allowed 18 hits.

“We got the first-game jitters out of the way against a very strong opponent,” Farmington coach Stefanie Volpe said. “Mercy being our first game on our fourth day outside was tough.

“We learned a lot about what we know to do and need to focus on in practice. We had a small glimpse of who we are capable of becoming.”

Krzywiecki was the winning pitcher in the second game and went 2-for-2 with a three-run homer in a 10-run fourth.

She allowed five hits over three innings, striking out three and walking one. Freshman pitcher Caylin Krause allowed 11 hits and four walks for the Falcons.

Padula went 2-for-3 with four RBI. Madigan Langlois and Belans hit two-run doubles in the Mercy fourth inning.

Haylee Butka hit a run-scoring double for the Falcons. Banks drove a run with a groundout, and a series of errors led to the other.

“In the postgame, I told the team, ‘If today was our worst day, then I’m glad it came on the first day,’” Volpe said. “We can only get better from here.

“Robyn pitched well. I’m looking to see her be strong, dominant and consistent for an entire seven innings.

“(Emily) Moilanen is solidifying herself as a leader in the lineup (leadoff batter) and defensively as far as taking control of her position (center field).”