CALDWELL, N.J. (Mar. 16, 2021) – Despite a team-high two RBI from graduate student Anthony Murphy (Peekskill, N.Y./Peekskill), the Mercy College baseball team dropped a 7-2 decision to Caldwell University on Tuesday afternoon at Kiwanis Oval.
The Mavericks (2-1) suffer their first loss of the season, while the Cougars (1-0) open their season with a win.
Murphy went 1-for-4 with two RBI and sophomore Nolan Giblin (Syracuse, N.Y./Jamesville Dewitt) went 3-for-4 with a run scored. Senior Brandon Maravi (Tappan, N.Y./Sullivan CC) and junior James Dieguez (Westbury, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) both went 1-for-3 and freshman Luis Ruiz (Weehawken, N.J./High Tech) and junior James Mattutat (Huntington, N.Y./Walt Whitman) went 1-for-1. Sophomore Ryan Dieguez (Westbury, N.Y./Chaminade) made his first collegiate start on the mound and went 3.2 innings with six runs allowed and three strikeouts to take the loss. Freshman Max Rank (Westwood, N.J./Westwood JR/SR) pitched three scoreless innings of relief in his debut on the mound and junior Jonathan Diforio (Harrison, N.Y./University of Delaware) pitched a scoreless inning in his Mercy debut.
Caldwell was led by Chris Dorta who went 1-for-4 with three RBI. Brian Mackey made the start and pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win.
After a scoreless first inning, Caldwell took a 1-0 lead on two hits and an Elias Negron sacrifice fly.
The Cougars added on a run in the third inning following a Kyle Richards RBI single to make it 2-0.
Caldwell exploded for five runs on just one hit in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-0 lead. Richards drove in the first run on a hit by pitch and Jalen March brought home the second run on a bases-loaded walk. Dorta delivered the biggest blow of the inning, a triple to center field with the bases loaded, which allowed three runs to score.
Mercy got on the board in the top of the fifth to make it 7-1. Junior Ryan Saltzman (Old Bethpage, N.Y./Plainview Old Bethpage JFK) led off the inning with a walk and then Giblin reached on a fielder's choice with Saltzman being thrown out at second. Giblin advanced to second on a throwing error by the pitcher and then Murphy singled to right field to bring home Giblin for the Mavericks first run.
The Mavericks loaded the bases in the top of the seventh following a Mattutat hit and two walks with no outs. However, a double play and ground out ended the threat and inning without Mercy scoring.
Mercy scored their final run of the game in the top of the ninth to make it 7-2. Ruiz led off the inning with a single and Giblin followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Murphy then delivered a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Ruiz. The Mavericks were unable to score again and Caldwell came away with the win.
Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action on Thursday, March 18th when they host Dominican at 3 p.m.
