Baseball Splits Non-Conference Doubleheader Against Wilmington University
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Mar. 12, 2015)- The Mercy College baseball team spilt a non-conference doubleheader against the Wildcats of Wilmington University on Thursday afternoon. The Mavericks record now stands at 3-7 overall, while the Wildcats record now stands at 5-6.
Game 1: Mercy 4 Wilmington 5
Game one was a pitching duel between sophomore Matt Nalbone (Islip, N.Y. / Islip) and Frank Samluk. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth, when a bunt allowed Jon Castro to slide under a tag made by senior Sal Palumbo (Medford, N.Y. / Patchogue-Medford), giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Wilmington capitalized on some Mercy pitching struggles, allowing them to increase their lead to 4-0, entering the ninth.
The Mavericks would rally in the ninth, as junior James Patterson (Cornwall, N.Y. / Cornwall) hit an inside the park homerun that scored senior Bryan Greig (New City, N.Y. / Clarkstown South) and junior Scott Hagan (Mamaroneck, N.Y. / Mamaroneck (SUNY Binghamton). Mercy closed the Wilmington lead to 5-4, but the Mavericks couldn't capitalize after Patterson's homerun and the Wildcats took game one.
Samluk struck out 15 batters and earned his first victory of the season, while Nalbone struck out six batters and fell to 0-2.
Game 2: Mercy 8 Wilmington 5
Wilmington took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Freshman Bryan Torres (Bronx, N.Y. / All Hallows) rallied the Mavericks in the top of the third, as he tripled to left center allowing fellow classmate Liam Slattery (Floral Park, N.Y. / Archbishop Molloy) to score. After a Grudzinski single scored Torres from third, Hagan stepped to the plate and hit a two RBI homerun to left to take a 4-1 lead.
Mercy increased their lead to 8-2 in the top of the fifth as they scored four runs on six hits. Grudzinski got the scoring started in the inning, as he tripled to score Torres and Slattery. Palumbo and senior Blake Hasbrouck (Middletown, N.Y. / Orange CC) both picked up RBI's in the inning as they drove in runs, putting the Mavericks into a comfortable lead.
The Wildcats made a small rally late in the bottom of the ninth, but ultimately the Mavericks prevailed.
Grudzinski went 3-for-4 with three RBI's and a run scored, while Torres went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Palumbo and junior Justin Echevarria (Bronx, N.Y. /Orange CC) both went 2-for-3 at the dish. Patterson picked up the victory and Rob Gore took the loss. Senior Vincent Luppino (Englewood Cliffs, N.J. / Ramapo College) earned his first save of the season.
Head Coach Jason Lamando and the Mavericks will return to action on Saturday, Mar. 14th, as they will host the Golden Knights of the College of Saint Rose in a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.
