BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Mar. 17, 2024) – Powered by a combined eight RBI from sophomore Zach Ashline (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central), graduate student Nolan Giblin (Syracuse, N.Y./Jamesville Dewitt) and freshman Nevin Scaperotti (Stormville, N.Y./Carmel), the Mercy University baseball team earned a 10-5 win at University of Bridgeport on Sunday afternoon at Seaside Park.
The Mavericks (8-11) won three out of the four meetings against the Purple Knights (2-12).
Mercy was led by Ashline who went 3-for-5 with his team-leading seventh home run of the season and a game-high four RBI. Giblin went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs and Scaperotti went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Sophomore John Nisco (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) went 1-for-4 with an RBI and junior Jaden Caballero (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) went 1-for-3 with a run. Junior Gabe Sanders (Dunedin, Fla./Central Alabama CC) went 1-for-4 with two runs and junior Joseph Gonzalez (Monroe, N.Y./Rockland CC) recorded an RBI. Sophomore Diego Wirz (Stamford, Conn./Stamford) pitched the first 4.1 innings with two runs allowed to earn a no-decision. Junior Matthew Manzoeillo (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon) pitched 2.2 scoreless innings of relief to earn his first win of the season.
Bridgeport was led by Jeremy Rodrigues who went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. James Ackerman allowed five runs in 3.0 innings to take the loss.
Mercy took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Freshman Kyle Engmann (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) walked and stole second before scoring on an Ashline single to right field, making it 1-0.
The Mavericks scored another run in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. Sanders led off the inning with a single and stole second before scoring on a Scaperotti RBI groundout to second, giving Mercy a 2-0 lead.
Mercy added three more runs in the third inning to take a 5-0 lead. Engmann led off the inning with a walk and stole second before scoring on a Giblin RBI single to make it 3-0. Ashline then hit a two-run home run to left field, giving the Mavericks a 5-0 advantage.
The Mavericks tacked on a run in the fifth inning to make it 6-0. Giblin walked to lead off the inning and scored on an Ashline double. Bridgeport scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it 6-2.
Mercy got a run back in the sixth inning to make it 7-2. Caballero walked with one out and scored on a Gonzalez sacrifice to make it 7-2.
The Mavericks recorded two more runs in the seventh inning to make it 9-2. Sanders walked with two outs in the inning and scored on a Nisco double to make it 8-2. Scaperotti followed with a single to right field, scoring Nisco to give Mercy a 9-2 lead.
Mercy scored their final run in the eighth inning to take a 10-2 lead. Gonzalez walked with two outs and stole second before scoring on a Giblin RBI single to make it 10-2. The Purple Knights scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to make it 10-5.
Graduate student John Gillespie (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) retired Bridgeport in order in the bottom of the ninth, giving Mercy the 10-5 win.
Mercy had 10 hits and no errors and Bridgeport had 10 hits and no errors.
Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action on Tuesday, March 19th when they host Dominican at 3 p.m.
