DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 13, 2024) – Despite home runs from junior Alfred Hoti (New York, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) and sophomore John Nisco (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow), the Mercy University baseball team dropped 10-6 and 14-5 decisions to ECC foe No. 16 Molloy University on Saturday afternoon at Mercy Field.

The Mavericks (14-22, 4-7 ECC) have dropped 10 of their last 11 games, while the Lions (25-9, 11-3 ECC) have won 11 straight meetings against Mercy.

Game 1: Molloy 10, Mercy 6

Molloy scored three runs in the top of the first to take a 3-0 lead. Mercy scored a run in the bottom of the first to make it 3-1. Junior Jaden Caballero (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) led off the inning with a double and later scored on a graduate student Nolan Giblin (Syracuse, N.Y./Jamesville Dewitt) RBI single.

The Lions scored three more runs in the second inning to take a 6-1 lead.

Mercy made it 6-2 in the bottom of the third when Hoti hit an inside-the-park home run to center field.

Molloy recorded three runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to take a 10-2 lead. The score remained 10-2 until the bottom of the ninth when Mercy scored four runs to make it 10-6. Giblin led off the inning with a double and sophomore Zach Ashline (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) walked. Nisco then doubled, scoring Giblin to make it 10-3. Junior Joseph Gonzalez (Monroe, N.Y./Rockland CC) then hit a two-run single up the middle, making it 10-5. Gonzalez later scored to make it 10-6, after Caballero reached on an error by the pitcher. A popup to shortstop ended the inning and the game.

Mercy was led by Hoti who went 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Nisco went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Caballero went 2-for-5 and graduate student Justin Glennerster (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) went 1-for-4. Giblin went 2-for-4 with an RBI, becoming the fourth Maverick in program history to record 100 career RBI. Sophomore Kolongi Goins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./FDR) went 1-for-3 and senior Ryan Rozinski (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) allowed six earned runs in 4.1 innings to take the loss. Junior Scott Scheppy (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) allowed one run in 4.2 innings.

Molloy was led by Nicholas Dagnello who went 2-for-5 with four RBI. Ryan Hynes allowed four runs in 8.0 innings to earn the win.

Mercy had 10 hits and three errors and Molloy had 14 hits and one error.

Game 2: Molloy 14, Mercy 5

Molloy scored two runs in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead. Mercy scored a run in the bottom of the first to make it 2-1. Caballero reached on an error to start the inning and later scored after Nisco reached first following a wild pitch after striking out.

The Lions scored three more runs in the third inning to take a 5-1 lead. Molloy tacked on a run in the fourth and five runs in the fifth to take an 11-1 lead.

The score remained 11-1 until the sixth inning when Mercy scored four runs to make it 11-5. Freshman Kyle Engmann (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) reached on an error and Glennerster singled to start the inning. Nisco later hit an inside-the-park home run to center field, scoring three runs to make it 11-4. Gonzalez then walked before scoring on a graduate student Janiel Ramirez (Windsor, Conn./The College of Saint Rose) RBI double to make it 11-5.

Molloy scored three runs in the top of the seventh to make it 14-5. Mercy could not score in the bottom of the ninth, giving Molloy the 14-5 win.

Mercy was led by Nisco who went 1-for-4 with three RBI and by Ramirez who went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Freshman Nevin Scaperotti (Stormville, N.Y./Carmel) went 1-for-2 and Glennerster went 1-for-3. Sophomore Liam Padden (Bronx, N.Y./Canyon Del Oro) went 1-for-1 and junior Jack Sullivan (Orlando, Fla./Allegany College of Maryland) allowed five earned runs in 4.0 innings to take the loss.

Molloy was led by Gavin McAlonie who went 2-for-5 with four RBI. Matthew Fried allowed two earned runs in 5.2 innings to earn the win.

Mercy had five hits and five errors and Molloy had 13 hits and four errors.

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