DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Mar. 29, 2024) – Powered by a team-high two home runs and six RBI on the day from junior Gabe Sanders (Dunedin, Fla./Central Alabama CC), the Mercy University baseball team earned a 10-8 win over ECC foe Queens College before falling 17-15 in game two on Friday afternoon at Mercy Field.

The Mavericks (13-13, 4-2 ECC) have split each of their last two doubleheaders, while the Knights (13-10, 4-2 ECC) snapped a two-game losing streak with the game two win.

Game 1: Mercy 10, Queens 8

After a scoreless first inning, Queens scored five runs in the second inning and one run in the third inning to take a 6-0 lead. The Mavericks scored two runs in the bottom of the third to make it 6-2. Junior Alfred Hoti (New York, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) led off the inning with a triple and scored on a freshman Kyle Engmann (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) ground-rule double to make it 6-1. Engmann later scored following a double play to make it 6-2.

Mercy inched closer with three runs in the fourth inning to make it 6-5. Graduate student Justin Glennerster (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) started the one out rally with a double and scored on a junior Jaden Caballero (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh) single to make it 6-3. Graduate student Brandon Nolasco (Chester, N.Y./Mount Saint Mary College) then hit a two-run home run to left field, cutting the Queens lead to one, 6-5.

The Mavericks took the lead for good in the fifth inning, scoring two runs to take a 7-6 lead. Graduate student Nolan Giblin (Syracuse, N.Y./Jamesville Dewitt) and Sanders singled, and Giblin later scored on a Glennerster RBI single to tie the game at 6-6. Sanders later scored on a wild pitch to give Mercy a 7-6 lead.

Mercy scored three more runs in the seventh inning to take a 10-6 lead. Sanders was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and scored on a Nolasco double to make it 8-6. Hoti then singled to right field, scoring both Caballero and Nolasco to make it 10-6.

Queens scored two runs in the eighth inning to make it 10-8. However, junior Matthew Manzoeillo (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon) retired the Knights in order in the ninth inning to give Mercy the 10-8 game one win.

Mercy was led by Nolasco who went 2-for-3 with three RBI and by Hoti who went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Glennerster went 3-for-3 with an RBI and Caballero went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Engmann went 1-for-4 with an RBI and Giblin went 1-for-4. Junior Joseph Gonzalez (Monroe, N.Y./Rockland CC) went 1-for-4 and freshman Nevin Scaperotti (Stormville, N.Y./Carmel) made the start and allowed five runs in two innings to earn a no-decision. Manzoeillo pitched 4.2 innings with two runs allowed to earn his second win of the season.

Queens was led by Jorsixt Jimenez who went 3-for-5 with two RBI. Jordan Sanabria allowed seven runs in five innings to take the loss.

Mercy had 13 hits and one error and Queens had 14 hits and one error.

Game 2: Queens 17, Mercy 15

Queens scored two runs in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead. The Mavericks answered with a run in the bottom of the inning to make it 2-1. Giblin singled with two outs in the inning and later scored following a passed ball.

The Knights scored a run in the second inning to take a 3-1 lead. The Mavericks exploded for five runs in the bottom of the second to take a 6-3 lead. Glennerster singled to lead off the inning and scored on a Hoti inside-the-park home run to tie the game at 3-3. Engmann then singled and later scored on a Gonzalez double to give Mercy a 4-3 lead. Giblin then singled home Gonzalez to make it 5-3 and sophomore Zach Ashline (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) doubled home Giblin for the final run of the inning.

A Matt Filip home run to lead off the third inning made it 6-4. Queens scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning to take an 8-6 lead. Mercy recorded a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 8-7. Gonzalez reached on an error and scored on a Sanders sacrifice fly.

Queens scored three more runs in the fifth inning to take an 11-7 lead. The Mavericks plated a run in the sixth inning when Sanders hit an inside-the-park home run to make it 11-8.

The Knights plated three more runs in the seventh inning to build their lead to 14-8. Mercy scored two runs in the eighth inning to cut Queens' lead to 14-10. Giblin doubled and scored on Sanders' second inside-the-park home run of the game.

Queens recorded three runs in the top of the ninth to make it 17-10. The Mavericks scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to make it 17-15. Scaperotti led off the inning with a single and later scored on a Gonzalez single to make it 17-11. Hoti scored the second run of the inning on a wild pitch to make it 17-12. Sanders then hit a two-run single, scoring Ashline and Gonzalez to get the Mavericks to within three, 17-14. Caballero later singled home Sanders to make it 17-15 with two outs. A popup to shortstop ended the game with the tying runs on base.

Mercy was led by Sanders who went 3-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI and by Hoti who went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Gonzalez went 2-for-6 with two RBI and Giblin went 3-for-6 with an RBI. Ashline went 3-for-5 with an RBI and Caballero went 2-for-6 with an RBI. Engmann went 1-for-5 and Glennerster went 2-for-5. Scaperotti went 2-for-5 and sophomore John Nisco (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) went 1-for-1. Senior Ryan Rozinski (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) allowed three earned runs in 3.0 innings to earn a no-decision. Sophomore Diego Wirz (Stamford, Conn./Stamford) allowed four runs in 0.2 innings to take the loss.

Queens was led by Filip who went 2-for-5 with three RBI. Caleb Cassie allowed five earned runs in five innings to earn the win.

Mercy had 22 hits and one error and Queens had 22 hits and two errors.

Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they play at Queens at 12 p.m.