MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Feb. 22, 2020) – Despite a run scored from senior John Mooradian (Marlboro, N.Y./Marlboro), the Mercy College baseball team dropped a 5-0 decision to Southern Connecticut State University before falling 10-1 to No. 23 Southern New Hampshire University on Friday night.
The Mavericks (1-6) have dropped five games in a row, while the Owls (2-0) remain perfect and the Penmen (2-3) have won two games in a row.
Game 1: Southern Connecticut State 5, Mercy 0
Southern Connecticut struck for four runs on one hit and a Mercy error in the top of the first to take a 4-0 lead. Jack Drewry hit a three-run home run in the inning and John Spoto had a sacrifice fly.
The score remained 4-0 heading into the fourth inning when graduate student Miguel Ortiz Sanchez (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) singled to lead off the inning and reached third following a stolen base and error by the catcher. However, three straight outs ended the threat and inning with the score still 4-0.
The Owls tacked on a run in the top of the seventh when Isaiah Likely pinch ran and scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-0.
Murphy and Ortiz Sanchez recorded back-to-back singles in the ninth inning to put runners on first and second with no outs, but two strikeouts and a flyout ended the inning and game.
Ortiz Sanchez and Murphy went 2-for-4 and Mooradian went 1-for-4. Junior Jack Kelly (Scranton, Pa./Scranton) pitched 5.0 innings with no earned runs allowed and eight strikeouts to take the loss. Junior Manuel Sanchez (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining) pitched 4.0 innings of relief with one run allowed and five strikeouts.
Southern Connecticut was led by Jack Drewry who went 1-for-3 with three RBI. Zach Ridger pitched 7.0 innings with three hits allowed and ten strikeouts to earn the win.
Game 2: Southern N.H. 10, Mercy 1
Senior James Jakuba (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Central Connecticut State University) pitched three scoreless innings before the Penmen broke through with three runs on two hits and two errors to take a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning.
Southern N.H. added on two more runs in the fifth and sixth innings to build a 7-0 lead after six innings.
Mercy scored their lone run in the top of the seventh to make it 7-1. Mooradian led off the inning with a single and advanced to third following an error by the centerfielder. Sophomore Ryan Saltzman (Old Bethpage, N.Y./Plainview Old Bethpage JFK) walked and was caught stealing, but Mooradian was able to score on the play to get Mercy on the scoreboard.
The Penmen scored three more runs in the bottom of the seventh to take a 10-1 lead and held on for the win.
Mooradian went 1-for-4 with a run and junior Corey Tingo (Selden, N.Y./Suffolk CC) went 1-for-3. Freshman Isaiah Ortiz (North Bergen, N.J./High Tech) went 1-for-2 and Jakuba went 5.2 innings with five earned run allowed and seven strikeouts to take the loss. Junior Osvaldo Encarnacion (El Paso, Texas/The College of New Rochelle) pitched 1.1 scoreless innings of relief.
Southern N.H. was led by Idelson Taveras who went 2-for-3 with four RBI. Alex Gomes pitched 8.0 innings with 12 strikeouts to earn the win.
Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they play Franklin Pierce at 2:30 & 5:30 p.m. in Myrtle Beach.
