BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Apr. 2, 2019) – Despite a game-high three RBI from junior John Mooradian (Marlboro, N.Y./Marlboro), the Mercy College baseball team suffered an 8-7 setback in 15 innings at ECC foe University of Bridgeport on Tuesday afternoon at Seaside Park. The game originally started yesterday but was suspended after 12 innings due to darkness with the score tied at 7-7.

The Mavericks (11-16, 3-5 ECC) have dropped two games in a row, while the Purple Knights (9-15, 6-2 ECC) earn the series win.

Mooradian went 3-for-8 with three RBI and senior Miguel Ortiz Sanchez (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) went 2-for-7 with two RBI. Sophomore Paul Cozzolino (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining) went 1-for-3 with an RBI and junior Rafael Perez (Yonkers, N.Y./Corning CC) went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Junior Luis Grullart (New York, N.Y./Delaware State University) made the start on the mound and went 5.0 innings with six runs allowed to take a no-decision. Junior Andrew Hernandez (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. John's University) pitched four scoreless innings with five strikeouts and seniors Alonso Tenya (Lima, Peru/Westchester CC) and Kevin Tise (New York, N.Y./University of Hartford) tossed a combined three shutout innings. Sophomore Jack Kelly (Scranton, Pa./Scranton) allowed an unearned run in the 15th inning to take the loss.

Bridgeport was led by Alex Rauso who went 2-for-6 with two RBI. Quinton Carpenter pitched 3.0 shutout innings to earn the win.

Mercy struck first in the top of the first with three runs to take a 3-0 lead. Seniors Joseph Sadallah (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) and Anthony Murphy (Peekskill, N.Y./Peekskill) walked to put runners on first and second. Ortiz Sanchez followed with a double to left field that scored both Sadallah and Murphy to give Mercy a 2-0 lead. Senior Adonis Garcia (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) walked before Cozzolino singled to left center to score Ortiz Sanchez, making it 3-0.

Bridgeport answered in the bottom of the second with three runs on three hits to tie the game up at 3-3.

The Purple Knights scored a run in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to take a 6-3 lead. Mercy came back with a run in the top of the seventh to make it 6-4. Freshman Ryan Saltzman (Old Bethpage, N.Y./Plainview Old Bethpage JFK) reached on a fielder's choice after an Austin DeRosa (Seymour, Conn./Seymour) before Sadallah walked to put runners on first and second. Mooradian then stepped up and singled to left field to score Saltzman.

Bridgeport gained the run back in the bottom of the seventh to take a 7-4 lead. Mercy did not go down quietly and scored three runs in the top of the eighth to tie the game up at 7-7. Freshman Justin Renauto (Valhalla, N.Y./Valhalla) walked, Perez reached on a hit by pitch and DeRosa walked to load the bases. After a strikeout, Sadallah drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the first run of the inning. Mooradian came up big once again and singled to center field to score DeRosa and Perez, tying the game up at 7-7.

Neither team could score in the ninth inning so extra innings were needed to decide the game. The game remained tied at 7-7 after 12 innings when the game was called due to darkness on Monday. The game resumed at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the top of the 13th. Neither team could score heading to the bottom of the 15th. Conall Roberts led off the inning with a double before Rauso walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. Vincent DeRubeis singled to third base on a bunt and Roberts would come around to score after an error by the third baseman, giving Bridgeport the 8-7 walk-off win.

Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they host Adelphi at 3 p.m.