Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader Against Molloy to Stay in Playoff Picture
Box Score
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (May 3, 2014) – The Mercy College baseball team swept a doubleheader against the Lions of Molloy College on Saturday afternoon to stay in the battle for an East Coast Conference Championship berth.
The Mavericks improve to 14-26 overall and 10-13 in the ECC, while the Lions fall to 18-22 overall and 11-12 in the ECC.
Game #1: Mercy 8, Molloy 4
The Mavericks climbed out of an early 1-0 deficit, as they produced two four-run innings in the top of the third and fifth, respectively.
Trailing 1-0 in the third, senior Michael Dern (Roslyn, N.Y. / Valley Stream North) was hit by a pitch and then stole second, while freshman Michael Grudzinski (Islip, N.Y./Islip) walked to set up first and second with no outs. Freshman Dan Cleary (Smithtown, N.Y. /St. Anthony's) would tie the game at 1-1 on an RBI single up the middle to score Dern. The Mavericks took the lead on the very next pitch as Grudzinski scored on a wild pitch to take the 2-1 lead, while Cleary moved to second.
After sophomore Scott Hagan (Mamaroneck, N.Y. /Mamaroneck [SUNY Binghamton]) walked, junior Chris Salvo hit an RBI double to score Cleary and move Hagan to third for the 3-1 lead. Senior Jesus Jaile (Hartsdale, N.Y./Fordham Prep [NJIT]) came up next and hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Hagan and earn an RBI, taking a 4-1 lead.
Molloy cut the lead to 4-3, scoring two in the bottom half of the third. Mercy was not done yet, as the Mavericks' hot bats came alive in the top of the fifth. Salvo led off the inning with a single and then stole second. Jaile stepped to the plate again and smacked an RBI single to left center to score Salvo from second and take a 5-3 lead.
Jaile advanced to third on a double by junior Joseph Gismondi (East Meadow, N.Y. /East Meadow). Junior Sal Palumbo (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) increased the Mercy lead to 6-3 on an RBI single to left to score Jaile and move Gismondi to third. Palumbo stole second to put two runners in scoring position as Dern came to bat. Dern smacked a two-RBI double to right field, as the Mavericks took the 8-3 lead.
Freshman Matt Nalbone (Islip, N.Y. /Islip) pitched a gem to hold the Lions at bay, striking out seven while allowing just three earned runs in the complete game victory.
Game #2: Mercy 2, Molloy (14 inn.)
In Game Two, the bats were not quite as hot as Mercy again trailed 1-0 before coming to bat in the top of the fifth inning. Palumbo singled to left, and then advanced to second on a groundout. Back-to-back walks for Dern and junior Blake Hasbrouck (Middletown, N.Y. /Middletown [Orange CC]) loaded the bases for senior Andrew Kendel (Maywood, N.J. /Hackensack).
Kendel grounded out to shortstop but earned an RBI on the play as Palumbo scored to tie the game up at 1-1. Junior Bryan Grieg (New City, N.Y./ Clarkstown South) struck out 10 batters, allowing only one earned as the game remained tied at 1-1 after nine full innings had been played.
The game was still tied as Mercy came to bat in the bottom of the 14th. Senior Ken Post (Closter, N.J. / St. Joesph's) walked to start the inning, and then senior Chris Fesler (Middle Village, N.Y. / St. Francis Prep) was brought in to pinch run for Post. After a second walk of the inning put Hagan on base and moved Fesler to second, both then advanced another base on a wild pitch. Jaile drove in the winning run, as he hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Fesler.
Head Coach Bob Greiner and the Mavericks will close out the 2014 season in the final game of the series against the Lions of Molloy College on Senior Day, tomorrow, May 4 at 12:00 p.m.
