Box Score (Molloy)  |  Box Score (Mercy)

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Facing off against two teams which combined for 70 victories last spring, East Stroudsburg University dropped a pair of contests on Friday to begin its 2018 season.

The Warriors fell 3-1 to No. 17 Molloy in the opener, and they were bested 9-1 in six innings by Mercy later in the afternoon.

Freshman Kaitlyn Caleen provided the offensive highlight in Game 1, as she belted a home run to straightaway center field in the first at-bat of her collegiate career in the third inning. That leveled up the score at 1-1 after the nationally-ranked Lions had plated an unearned run in the bottom half of the second.

Molloy, which went 37-18 and advanced to the Division II College World Series in 2017, retook the lead on a solo homer by Bernadette Mullane to lead off the fourth. A two-out RBI single by Brianna Dalton provided an insurance run in the following frame.

Junior RHP Angelica Dark was impressive in the circle in her ESU debut. The transfer from Sacramento City College struck out five in a complete game six-inning effort, surrendering only six hits, two walks and a pair of earned runs. Dark retired the side in order in the third and sixth innings.

The Warriors, though, were limited to four hits by Molloy starter Jenna Turato. She walked two and struck out two over seven innings of work.

Freshman Marissa Govan accounted for two of ESU's four hits in the opener, while senior Mary Wallick added a double in the first inning.

ESU quickly fell behind 7-0 after two innings in the night cap against Mercy. Skania Lemus homered in each of those frames, as she hit a two-run shot in Mercy's six-run first inning and delivered a solo long ball with one out in the second.

The Warriors plated their run in the bottom half of the fifth. A walk by freshman MacKenzie Lewis and a single by freshman Sofia Cecchin put runners on first and second with one out. Lewis crossed the plate on back-to-back wild pitches.

Junior Madison Vicendese provided two of ESU's five hits in Game 2, while Wallick and sophomore Kaylee Hazewski each registered stolen bases.

Freshman RHP Taylor Keeney made her collegiate debut in relief, allowing one earned run over 5 2/3 innings.

Five of Mercy's nine runs were unearned, as ESU committed four errors in the field. The Mavericks (2-0) went 33-16 a year ago, including an 18-6 mark in East Coast Conference play.

The Warriors have two more games lined up for Saturday in Myrtle Beach, as they are scheduled to take on Southern New Hampshire at 10 a.m. and Le Moyne at 2 p.m.