UNIONDALE, N.Y. (Mar. 27, 2023) – Despite a team-high two RBI from freshman John Nisco (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow), the Mercy College baseball team dropped a 17-4 decision to Molloy University on Monday afternoon at Mitchel Field.

The Mavericks (4-19, 0-4 ECC) have dropped eight games in a row, while the Lions (16-8, 4-0 ECC) sweep the season series.

Nisco went 1-for-4 with two RBI and junior Jared Hernandez (Moca, P.R./Friends University) went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Junior Gabe Sanders (Dunedin, Fla./Central Alabama CCL) went 2-for-3 and sophomore Jaden Caballero (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) and graduate student Steven Schoen (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./Sacred Heart University) both went 2-for-5. Sophomores Frankie Asaro (East Williston, N.Y./Wheatley) and Connor Ruland (Islip, N.Y./Islip) both went 1-for-4 and sophomore Joseph Gonzalez (Monroe, N.Y./Rockland CC) went 1-for-5. Freshman Brian Zbytniewski (Whitesboro, N.Y./Whitesboro) allowed five runs in three innings to take the loss in his first collegiate start.

Molloy was led by Matt Yip who went 2-for-2 with three RBI. Robert Lucano pitched six innings with three earned runs allowed to earn the win.

The Lions took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an Anthony Manisero RBI groundout. Mercy answered with a run in the top of the second to tie the game at 1-1. Schoen singled and Sanders doubled to put runners on second and third. Nisco then reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Schoen, to tie the game at 1-1.

Molloy retook the lead in the bottom of the second on a Yip sacrifice fly to make it 2-1.

The score remained 2-1 until the bottom of the fourth when the Lions scored seven runs on seven hits to take a 9-1 lead.

Mercy scored a run in the fifth inning to make it 9-2. Ruland doubled to lead off the inning and scored following a Hernandez groundout. The Lions tacked on a run in the bottom of the inning on a Thomas Lebrecht groundout to make it 10-2.

The Mavericks scored two runs in the top of the sixth to cut Molloy's lead to 10-4. Sanders tripled and was brought home on a Nisco triple to make it 10-3. Nisco later scored following a Molloy error to make it 10-4.

Molloy scored two runs in the sixth, three runs in the seventh and two runs in the eighth to take a 17-4 lead. Mercy could not score in the ninth inning, giving the Lions the 17-4 win.

Mercy had 11 hits and one error and Molloy had 14 hits and two errors.

Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action on Friday, March 31st when they host STAC at 3 p.m.