Arcabascio and Mendez Combine for 15 RBI as Baseball Explodes for 23 Runs in 23-4 Victory over Stonehill in Season Opener
Box Score MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Feb. 25, 2016) – Powered by a combined 15 RBI from sophomore Nick Arcabascio (Brooklyn, N.Y./Quinnipiac University) and junior Randal Mendez (New York, N.Y./Coppin State University), the Mercy College baseball team exploded for 23 runs and 24 hits in a 23-4 victory over Stonehill College in their 2016 season opener on Thursday night in Myrtle Beach.
The Mavericks (1-0) put up their most runs in a game since a 25-9 victory over Felician during the 2000 season, while the Skyhawks (0-1) open up their season with a loss.
Mendez led the way with a 3-for-5 night with a team-high eight RBI and a grand slam, while Arcabascio drove in seven runs on a 4-for-5 day with five runs scored and a home run. Junior Charles Fina (Kingston, N.Y./Ulster County CC) went 4-for-6 with three runs scored and an RBI and freshman Joseph Sadallah (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) ended the night 3-for-4 with five runs and one RBI. Freshman Nicholas Chilson (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) concluded the evening with a 3-for-5 outing with two RBI. Graduate student Matt Snyder (Albany, N.Y./University of Kentucky) made the start on the mound and tossed five innings with no earned runs allowed and seven strikeouts to pick up the win.
After a scoreless first inning by both teams, Mercy would get on the board in the top of the second as Fina brought home John Young (New Hyde Park, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) on a sacrifice fly after Young led off the frame with a triple. Following three consecutive errors by the Skyhawks, Arcabascio made his presence felt as he cleared the bases with a double to make it 4-0. Mendez followed later in the frame with a ground-rule double to increase the lead to 5-0.
Mercy would increase the lead further in the top of the third as they put up a three-spot on four hits and a Stonehill error to build an 8-0 lead after three innings. The Mavericks continued their offensive tear in the fourth inning as Arcabascio, Mendez and Chilson each recorded RBI singles in the frame to produce four runs in the inning and give Mercy a commanding 12-0 lead.
The Skyhawks finally got on the board in the bottom half of the fourth, but the Mavericks continued to thrive at the plate in the fifth as back-to-back RBI triples from Sadallah and Bryan Torres (Bronx, N.Y./All Hallows) would then lead to a Arcabascio two-run home run. Chilson later added an RBI double in the frame and Mercy concluded the inning up 17-1.
Mendez smacked a grand slam in the sixth inning that helped cap off a six-run inning for the Mavericks who built the lead to 23-1. Stonehill scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh but Mercy's offense proved too much for the Skyhawks to overcome.
Head Coach Jason Lamando and the Mavericks look to build off the win as they take on nationally-ranked Franklin Pierce in a doubleheader at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
