PEMBROKE, N.C. (Feb. 20, 2024) – Despite a grand slam from graduate student Brandon Nolasco (Chester, N.Y./Mount Saint Mary College), the Mercy University baseball team dropped a 12-7 decision at No. 9 UNC Pembroke on Tuesday afternoon at Sammy Cox Field.
The Mavericks (1-4) have dropped four games in a row, while the Braves (11-0) remain undefeated.
Mercy was led by Nolasco who went 1-for-4 with his first home run as a Maverick and four RBI. Junior Joseph Gonzalez (Monroe, N.Y./Rockland CC) went 2-for-4 with an RBI and sophomore Zach Ashline (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Graduate student Justin Glennerster (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) went 1-for-2 with an RBI and freshman Peyton Jemison (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe Woodbury) went 2-for-5. Junior Jaden Caballero (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) went 1-for-5 with two runs and junior Jack Sullivan (Orlando, Fla./Allegany College of Maryland) made his first start as a Maverick and tossed one scoreless inning to take a no-decision. Senior Amaury Soto (Tucson, Ariz./Phoenix College) allowed three runs in one inning of relief to take the loss. Freshman Nevin Scaperotti (Stormville, N.Y./Carmel) pitched two scoreless innings of relief and junior Matthew Manzoeillo (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon) pitched one scoreless inning of relief. T
UNC Pembroke was led by Joey Rezek who went 2-for-4 with two home runs and a game-high five RBI. Rhett James pitched a scoreless inning of relief to earn the win.
The Mavericks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Caballero singled and later scored on an Ashline RBI single through the right side to make it 1-0.
After Sullivan held the Braves scoreless in the bottom of the first and Manzoeillo tossed a scoreless second inning, Mercy scored a run in the top of the third to take a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Kolongi Goins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./FDR) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and later scored on a Glennerster RBI single down the rightfield line.
UNC Pembroke scored a run in the third inning, three runs in the fourth inning and four runs in the fifth inning to take an 8-2 lead after five innings.
The score remained 8-2 heading to the top of the eighth when the Mavericks plated five runs to cut the Braves lead to one, 8-7. Caballero reached on a fielder's choice, freshman Joey Bodin (Matawan, N.J./Matawan Regional) was hit by a pitch and Ashline walked to load the bases. Gonzalez then singled to centerfield, scoring Caballero to make it 8-3. After a strikeout, Nolasco hit a grand slam to left field to get the Mavericks to within one, 8-7. A flyout to center ended the inning.
The Braves exploded for four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, using two home runs and three hits to take a 12-7 lead. Mercy went down in order in the top of the ninth to give UNC Pembroke the 12-7 win.
Mercy had eight hits and no errors and UNC Pembroke had 14 hits and no errors.
Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action on Friday, February 23rd when they face Felician at 12 p.m. in Myrtle Beach.
