Mercy College's Mikayla Newham's walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth inning spoiled a two home run performance by STAC's Amanda Leone and propelled the host Mavericks to a 7-6 win and a doubleheader sweep in East Coast Conference women's softball action today. Mercy won the first game, 6-1.

In the nightcap, the Lady Spartans used the home run ball to build a 5-2 lead. Leone's solo home run in the second inning tied the score at 1-1 and teammate Amanda Schweitzer followed with a long two-run homer in the third inning to push STAC ahead, 3-2. Leone added a two-run home run in the fourth inning. Mercy tied the score 5-5 before the Lady Spartans took a 6-5 lead when Me'-Lani Kendle scored on an error. Mercy tied the score in the sixth inning on Skania Lemus' clutch RBI single and Newham won the game with a long home run to lead off the eighth inning. The exciting victory was the eight straight for Mercy, the defending ECC champs. STAC's Briana Keaveney chipped in with two hits.

"We battled hard in the second game but Mercy is playing very well now and finding ways to win games," said Kristen Sullivan, STAC's head coach. "Amanda's hitting is really coming around and her home runs are a product of her hard work."

Mercy broke open the first game with two runs in the fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead, an advantage they would not relinquish. Lemus was the hitting star for the winners with a homer, double and five RBI.

Keaveney pitched well for STAC in defeat and teammate Ashley Landolina finished with two hits.

The Lady Spartans visit Queens College today in an ECC doubleheader that begins at noon.