Mercy College Women's Softball

Jaime Lorenzo was named Head Softball Coach on June 3, 2022 after being interim head coach since March 28, 2022. Lorenzo enters her fifth season as head coach in 2026. Lorenzo led the Mavericks to their fifth straight ECC Championship appearance in 2025. Mercy went 23-22 overall and 12-8 in ECC play. The Mavericks earned the No. 2 seed in the ECC Championship and earned their first ECC Championship win since 2021. Mercy finished with their most wins since 2019 and their most ECC wins since 2021. Under Lorenzo's leadership, Skylar Brandemarte was named ECC Co-Pitcher of the Year and was tabbed NFCA and D2CCA All-Region. Allison Murphy and Dylan Reyer also received All-Conference recognition from the ECC.   In 2024, Lorenzo guided the Mavericks to their fourth straight ECC Championship appearance. Mercy went 8-12 in ECC play to earn the No. 4 seed in the ECC Championship. Lorenzo oversaw the development of All-Region and All-ECC selections Shannon Sisco and Samantha Franck as well as All-ECC selection Nicole Smart.  During her first full season at the helm in 2023, Lorenzo led the Mavericks to their third straight ECC Tournament appearance. Mercy went 10-10 in ECC play to earn the No. 3 seed in the ECC Tournament. Lorenzo oversaw the development of ECC Rookie of the Year and All-Region honoree Cayla Crawford and First Team All-ECC selections Samantha Franck, Sydney Johnston, Shannon Sisco, Victoria Seppala and Crawford.  "I would like to thank Mr. Kilcullen and Mr. Sullivan for their support, trust, and the opportunity to build a successful program here at Mercy College. I also would like to thank the whole athletic department for making it feel like home from the very beginning. I feel very fortunate to coach this amazing group of student-athletes. They have a bright future ahead of them and I am excited to be a part of it. I look forward to watching them grow and succeed on and off the field. I am eager and ready to work to make this program the best it could be," stated Lorenzo. "Coach Lorenzo did an excellent job stepping in during the regular season and managing the team into the conference postseason tournament," said Director of Athletics Matt Kilcullen Jr. "She impressed everyone with her energy and passion for our student athletes and as a former head coach, her ability to grow the team fundamentally on all skill levels." Lorenzo led the Mavericks to their second straight ECC Championship appearance and four Mavericks were named All-Conference under her tutelage this season. Lorenzo joined the Mercy staff as an assistant prior to the 2021-22 academic year after serving as Concordia College's head coach for four seasons. The native of Eastchester, New York also played four years for the Clippers. She had a career .383 average, which is second-best in program history and her slugging percentage of .522 is third all-time. She also posted the most hits in Concordia softball history along with the most runs scored. Lorenzo was named to the CACC All-Tournament Team in 2010 and 2011 and was named Second Team All-CACC in 2010. Additionally, Lorenzo has experience as a local travel softball coach. She is currently serving as Head Coach for TC Futures 18u Gold travel team and has previously worked closely with Eastchester Softball League, conducting hitting and fielding clinics. Lorenzo is currently an elementary school teacher in the Bronx and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Education from Concordia in 2011. She also earned a master's degree in Special Education at Concordia in 2014. Year Overall Record ECC Record Honors 2021-22 9-19 9-15 ECC Tournament 2022-23 15-31 10-10 ECC Tournament 2023-24 14-28 8-12 ECC Tournament 2024-25 23-22 12-8 ECC Tournament Totals 61-100 39-45

Tayla Gardner has re-joined the softball coaching staff at Mercy College and will serve as the team's pitching coach starting in the 2022 season.  She previously served as pitching coach for the Mavericks for the 2015 season after graduating from Johnson and Wales University, before moving to Hawaii in a new career.  Gardner, was a former standout player and starting pitcher at Mercy in 2011, setting what was the single season strikeout record to date.  She then transferred to J&W to take a specialized major in culinary arts. There she earned 1st Team All Conference, 2014 Player of the Year, and the Johnson and Wales Female Athlete of the Year accolades.   “We are thrilled to have Tayla back working at the collegiate level where she will work to develop our pitchers and help them get to the next level.  She was a high energy pitcher for the Mavericks in 2011, and Johnson and Wales through 2014, and she will be able to guide our pitchers to increased success,” Head Coach Mike Fazio said. In addition to her duties at Mercy, Tayla is a full time pitching coach at Challenge U. Softball in Rockland County, NY.  There she encourages her athletes to stay focused, but also enjoy every step of the process.  She believes that hard work, keeping a positive attitude and loving what you do will ultimately lead to great success.