WILSON, N.C. (Feb. 15, 2019) – Despite a home run from senior Joseph Sadallah (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) in game one, the Mercy College baseball team opened its 2019 season with 20-6 and 11-0 setbacks to Barton College on Friday afternoon at Nixon Field.

The Mavericks (0-2) drop their first season opener since 2015, while the Bulldogs (7-4) have won three games in a row.

Game 1: Barton 20, Mercy 6

The Mavericks jumped on the board first with two runs in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead. Junior John Mooradian (Marlboro, N.Y./Marlboro) tripled and was brought home on an Anthony Murphy (Peekskill, N.Y./Peekskill) double to right field. Murphy later scored in the inning on an error by the third baseman to make it 2-0.

Barton answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first to tie the game up at 2-2. Mercy responded with three runs in the top of the second to build a 5-2 lead. Mooradian drove in two runs on a single to center field and later scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Murphy. The Bulldogs followed with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game up at 5-5.

After Mercy went down in order in the top of the third, Barton exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the third to take a 12-5 lead. The Bulldogs tacked on a run in the fourth, five runs in the fifth and two runs in the sixth to take a 20-5 lead.

Sadallah led off the seventh inning with a home run to left field to finish off the scoring for Mercy.

Sadallah went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI and Mooradian went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Murphy went 1-for-2 with a run and two RBI. Senior Kevin Tise (New York, N.Y./University of Hartford) pitched two innings with four earned runs allowed to take the loss.

Barton was led by Jacob Marcos who went 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBI. Chase Long pitched three scoreless innings to earn the win.

Game 2: Barton 11, Mercy 0

Mercy could not get their offense going in game two as they were held to just one hit and committed six errors in the five-inning nightcap. Barton opened the scoring with two runs in the second and broke the game open with nine runs in the third to take an 11-0 lead. Senior Adonis Garcia (New York, N.Y./Monroe College) recorded the Mavericks lone hit in the top of the fourth, but was left stranded at first.

Junior Luis Grullart (New York, N.Y./Delaware State University) made his first start as a Maverick and went 2.1 innings with five earned runs allowed to take the loss. Junior James Jakuba (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Central Connecticut State University) pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

Barton was led by Gatlin Pate who went 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBI. Jakob Ryan went the distance to earn the win.

Mercy resumes action tomorrow when play at Barton at 12 p.m.