BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Apr. 10, 2021) – Despite freshman Ryan Rozinski (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) throwing seven strong innings in game one, the Mercy College baseball team dropped 1-0 and 5-3 decisions to ECC foe University of Bridgeport on Saturday afternoon at Seaside Park.
The Mavericks (7-5, 4-2 ECC) see their four-game winning streak come to an end, while the Purple Knights (5-4, 5-4 ECC) earn the series win.
Game 1: Bridgeport 1, Mercy 0
A pitcher's duel broke out between Rozinski and Bridgeport starter Andrew Francella. The teams combined for just 10 hits and one run.
Graduate student Miguel Ortiz Sanchez (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) walked in the first inning and stole second but was left stranded following a groundout to second. Bridgeport had a runner reach third in the bottom of the first but Rozinski got a fly out to end the inning.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when two singles from Bridgeport put runners at first and third. Following a steal of second, a wild pitch allowed Conall Roberts to score the first and only run of the game.
Mercy went down in order in the seventh and eighth innings before Ortiz Sanchez doubled in the ninth but was left stranded at second to end the game.
Senior Francisco Paulino (Haina San Cristobal, Dominican Republic/Monroe College) went 2-for-3 and Ortiz Sanchez and junior Nikko Liguori (Branford, Conn./Franklin Pierce University) both went 1-for-3. Rozinski pitched seven innings with one run allowed and seven strikeouts to take the loss. Freshman Max Rank (Westwood, N.J./Westwood JR/SR) pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
Bridgeport was led by Roberts who went 3-for-4 with a run. Francella pitched a complete game with six strikeouts to earn the win.
Game 2: Bridgeport 5, Mercy 3
Mercy got the scoring starting in the top of the first when sophomore Nolan Giblin (Syracuse, N.Y./Jamesville Dewitt) walked and later scored on an Anthony Murphy (Peekskill, N.Y./Peekskill) triple to right center to make it 1-0.
Bridgeport answered in the bottom of the inning with four runs on three hits and a Mercy error to take a 4-1 lead.
The Purple Knights added on a run in the second inning to take a 5-1 lead.
Mercy inched closer in the top of the fourth with a run to make it 5-2. Murphy walked and advanced to second following a Charles Lebron (Brooklyn, N.Y./Franklin Pierce University) single. After a wild pitch advanced the runners a base, Paulino grounded out to second to bring home Murphy.
The game remained 5-2 until the bottom of the seventh. Paulino led off the seventh with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Senior Brandon Maravi (Tappan, N.Y./Sullivan CC) walked before a double play made it two outs in the inning and Paulino advanced to third. Paulino would then score on a wild pitch to make it 5-3. Senior Kuzari Jocelyn (Brooklyn, N.Y./Abraham Lincoln) then singled to bring up the tying run but a strikeout ended the game.
Murphy went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored and Giblin went 1-for-2 with a run. Lebron went 1-for-3 and Jocelyn went 2-for-3. Junior Austin DeRosa (Seymour, Conn./Seymour) pitched 1.2 innings with five runs allowed and two strikeouts to take the loss. Freshman Gaetano Pennisi (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) pitched 2.1 scoreless innings and junior Jonathan Diforio (Harrison, N.Y./University of Delaware) pitched two scoreless innings.
Bridgeport was led by Craig Leonard who went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Jason Giambra pitched six innings with six strikeouts to earn the win. Justin Hafele pitched one inning to earn the save.
Mercy resumes action tomorrow when they host St. Thomas Aquinas at 3 p.m.
