ETTRICK, Va. (Mar. 10, 2018) – Powered by a complete game win on the mound from junior Kevin Tise (New York, N.Y./University of Hartford) in game two, the Mercy College baseball team dropped a 14-6 decision in game one before salvaging a split with a 3-1 game two victory on Saturday afternoon.

The Mavericks (4-12) snap an 11-game losing streak with the win, while the Trojans (12-5-1) earn the series win.

Game 1: Virginia State 14, Mercy 6

The opening game of the day saw the hosts jump out to a 2-0 lead with two runs on five hits in the bottom of the first. The Mavericks got on the board in the top of the second with two runs to tie the game up at 2-2. Freshman Zak Kain (Dingmans Ferry, Pa./Delaware Valley) hit a lead-off home run and junior Josue Perez (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) later scored on a passed ball to tie the game up.

Virginia State retook the lead with three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-2 lead. The Trojans increased the lead to 7-2 after four innings before the Mavericks scored two runs in the fifth inning to make it 7-4. Junior Joseph Sadallah (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) hit an RBI double and sophomore John Mooradian (Marlboro, N.Y./Marlboro) drove in a run with a single to conclude the scoring in the frame.

The hosts tacked on three runs in the fifth and four runs in the sixth to take a 14-4 lead. Mercy scored two runs in the top of the seventh with junior Anthony Murphy (Peekskill, N.Y./Peekskill) driving in a run on an error and Kain singling home a run to make it 14-6. The Mavericks could not get any closer as the Trojans held on for the win.

Kain went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Mooradian went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Sadallah went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI and sophomore Andrew Hernandez (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. John's University) pitched 2 1/3 innings with five earned runs allowed to take the loss.

Virginia State was led by Jahleel Sewer who went 2-for-4 with a run and four RBI. Jamar Hinton earned the win with a complete game.

Game 2: Mercy 3, Virginia State 1

A pitcher's duel broke out in game two with the teams combining for just four runs and six hits. The contest remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when the Trojans plated an unearned run to take a 1-0 lead.

The Mavericks recovered by scoring three runs in their next at bat to take a 3-1 lead. Mooradian and Murphy hit back-to-back RBI doubles and junior Adonis Garcia (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) recorded a sacrifice fly to give the Mavericks the lead for good.

Tise would keep the Trojans off the board the remainder of the game to give Mercy the win.

Murphy and Mooradian went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Tise went seven innings with five strikeouts to earn his first win as a Maverick.

Virginia State received an RBI from Liam Fahy and Joshua Welcher tossed two innings of relief to take the loss.

Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action on Tuesday, March 13th when they host Nyack College at 3 p.m.