Milestone Season for Softball in 2024

 

5/21/24

 

 

Although MCCC softball’s season came to an end just short of a trip to the NJCAA Division II World Series, there were many significant achievements that came during the 2024 season.  The Vikings season came to an end in the Atlantic A East District following two losses to #5 ranked Louisburg College. 

 

Despite the losses, Mercer finished with the most wins in program history, 42, one more than the 41 the Vikings had in 2016.  The Vikings had a dramatic comeback just to make it to the District Championship as MCCC lost their opening game of the double elimination Region Tournament.  The Vikings were able to win three straight elimination games to reach the Region Championship.  Mercer beat Del Tech in the first game of the Region Championship before falling to Del Tech in eight innings in the if necessary game of the Region Championship.

 

Heading into the Region 19 Tournament, the Vikings had a 25 game winning streak.  Head Coach Ryan Zegarski got his 600^th win when the Vikings beat Del Tech in the first game of the Region 19 Championship.  Two sophomores each got their 100^th career hit and RBI: Cierra Acevedo (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) and Maya Patel (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township).  Sophomore pitcher Shea Krebs (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville HS) threw a perfect game in an 8-0 win vs Lackawanna on April 6^th.

 

The Vikings had an explosive offense with nine players hitting .300 or better and two players finishing the season with a batting average over .500.  Freshman Kelci O’Dell (Wrightstown, NJ/Northern Burlington) was one of the top hitters in NJCAA Division II Softball and almost had 100 hits in her first collegiate season, finishing with 93 on the season, third best in the country.  O’Dell batted .531 on the season, which was eighth best in the nation and Patel hit .525, which was eleventh best in the country.  Patel also had an impressive .983 slugging percentage on the season.

 

Two Viking freshman hit over .400 on the season, Emily Wyzykowski (Westampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) who finished with a .434 batting average and Izzy Bonacci (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) who hit .429.  Freshman Madison Jobes (Roebling, NJ/Florence Twp. Memorial) finished just below .400 with a .393 average.

 

Freshmen Angelina Guida (Monroe, NJ/Monroe Twp.) and Ada Kaschl (Brussels, Belgium/European School of Brussels III) both finished the year with a .386 batting average, sophomore Abby Bell (Hightstown, NJ/Hightstown HS) had a .376 average and freshman Makenna Spak (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) hit .368 on the season.  

 

The Vikings team batting average was .406, sixth best in the nation with a .605 slugging percentage, third best in the country.  Mercer scored 520 runs in 51 games and had 45 home runs on the season.

 

Mercer had four players who had 60 or more RBIs, led by O’Dell who had 62, Acevedo was one behind with 61, Patel had 59 and Bell had 50.  The Vikings had 440 RBIs on the season, which was 9^th best in the nation.  Mercer’s 560 total hits was 12^th best in the country.  The Vikings also drew 234 walks, which was fourth best in NJCAA DII softball.  And the Vikings had the most sacrifice flies in Division II softball with 33.

 

The Vikings also had a strong pitching staff led by Bonacci, Krebs and freshman Jessica Adams (Levittown, PA/Harry S Truman).  Adams had a 1.64 ERA, Krebs a 2.24 ERA and Bonacci a 2.63 ERA.  Bonacci had 154 strikeouts in her first collegiate season, Krebs had 103 strikeouts and Adams 74.  All three Viking pitchers had 10 or more wins, led by Krebs who finished the year with a 17-2 record.  Bonacci went 15-6 and Adams was 10-1.

 

Krebs had eight shutouts on the season, which was second best in NJCAA Division II softball.  Krebs’ seventeen wins was 24^th best in the country.  Bonacci had six shutouts this season, which was seventh best in the country.  Bonacci averaged 8.98 strikeouts per game, which was 14^th best in the nation.  Adams, who served mostly in a relief role this season had the ninth best ERA in the nation at 1.64 in 64 innings pitched.  The Vikings 20 shutouts was second best in NJCAA Division II softball.

 

Although the season did not end with a trip to the NJCAA World Series, Vikings softball achieved a lot during the 2024 season including the most wins in program history.  The season was full of many milestones which will highlight the season and a special year in Viking softball history.

 

For the latest on Vikings softball, visit: https://www.mccc.edu/athletics_women_softball.shtml