MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Feb. 22, 2019) – Despite a team-high three hits and two RBI from junior John Mooradian (Marlboro, N.Y./Marlboro), the Mercy College baseball team dropped a 7-4 decision to No. 9 Southern New Hampshire University on Friday afternoon.
The Mavericks (1-5) have dropped two games in a row, while the Penmen (3-2) move over .500 on the year.
Mooradian went 3-for-5 with two RBI and senior Joseph Sadallah (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run. Junior Kevin Garcia (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) recorded an RBI and seniors Anthony Murphy (Peekskill, N.Y./Peekskill) and Adonis Garcia (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) each recorded a hit. Senior Kevin Tise (New York, N.Y./University of Hartford) pitched the first five innings with five runs allowed to take the loss. Seniors Odalis Perez (New York, N.Y./Sullivan CC) and Alonso Tenya (Lima, Peru/Westchester CC) each pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
Southern New Hampshire was led by Sam Henrie who went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Endy Morales tossed seven innings with three runs allowed to earn the win. Hayden Manning pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save.
The Penmen got on the board first with a run in the top of the first on a Henrie sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. It remained 1-0 until the bottom of the second when Kevin Garcia recorded an RBI groundout that brought home Adonis Garcia, who doubled to start the inning, making it 1-1.
After a scoreless third inning, Southern New Hampshire scored two runs in the top of the fourth to build a 3-1 lead. A two-run home run from Joshua Zbierski provided the Penmen with the lead again. The Penmen later made it 5-1 in the top of the fifth following three hits in the inning.
The Mavericks answered in the bottom of the fifth with two runs to cut the deficit to 5-3. Mooradian hit a two-run triple that scored Sadallah and freshman Justin Renauto (Valhalla, N.Y./Valhalla) to get Mercy back within striking distance.
Southern New Hampshire increased the lead to 7-3 with two more runs in the top of the seventh. Mercy made it 7-4 in the bottom of the eighth when Sadallah singled home freshman Austin DeRosa (Seymour, Conn./Seymour) after DeRosa walked earlier in the inning.
Mooradian and Murphy singled to lead off the bottom of the ninth for Mercy, but a strikeout and double play ended the threat and game.
Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they face Southern Connecticut State at 5:30 p.m. in Myrtle Beach.
