DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Feb. 12, 2025) – The Mercy University baseball team opens its 2025 season on Thursday, February 13th when they face Goldey-Beacom College at 7 p.m. in Cary, North Carolina. The Mavericks will then face Goldey-Beacom on Friday, February 14th at 6 p.m. in Cary before facing Franklin Pierce University on Saturday, February 15th at 11 a.m. Mercy concludes their Cary stay against Franklin Pierce on Sunday, February 16th at 10 a.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Thursday, February 13th 7 p.m. & Friday, February 14th 7 p.m.
Records (2024): Mercy (20-29), Goldey-Beacom (34-21)
Location: Cary, North Carolina
Date/Time: Saturday, February 15th 11 a.m. & Sunday, February 16th 10 a.m.
Records (2024): Mercy (20-29), Franklin Pierce (28-20)
Location: Cary, North Carolina
Last Meeting vs. Goldey-Beacom
Goldey-Beacom earned a 9-2 win over Mercy on February 16, 2024.
Last Meeting vs. Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce earned a 5-2 win over Mercy on February 23, 2023.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy enters the 2025 season picked fourth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 20-29 overall and 10-14 in ECC play last season. The Mavericks look to qualify for the ECC Tournament for the fourth time in five seasons under Head Coach Chris Schoen.
Leading the returners for the Mavericks is sophomore Nevin Scaperotti who was named ECC Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-ECC last season after going 5-3 on the mound with a 4.52 ERA in 67.2 innings pitched while also hitting .382 with 13 RBI, 26 hits and 10 runs. Senior Alfred Hoti also returns after being named Second Team All-ECC last season and NCBWA Preseason All-East Region earlier this week. The catcher hit .241 with 27 hits, 21 runs, six doubles and 28 RBI. Junior Zach Ashline is back after hitting 11 home runs last season, tying the single-season school record and ranking third in the ECC in home runs. Junior John Nisco returns after hitting .315 a year ago with 28 runs, five home runs and 33 RBI and senior Gabe Sanders is back after hitting .309 with 19 RBI in 29 games last season. Junior Sean McAdams is also back after hitting .417 in nine games last season. McAdams hit .324 with 23 RBI, three home runs and 31 runs during his freshman season in 2023. Senior Joseph Gonzalez is back after recording 24 RBI, 38 runs and 13 stolen bases in 2024 and sophomore Peyton Jemison returns after hitting .377 with six RBI in 13 games before suffering a season-ending injury. Jemison was named ECC Rookie of the Week once last season. Sophomore Kyle Engmann returns after hitting .250 with nine RBI and 10 stolen bases in 32 games a year ago. Also, returning are seniors Frankie Asaro and Connor Ruland, sophomore Joey Bodin, junior Kolongi Goins.
Schoen will also lean on freshmen Andre Jenkins, Anthony Altobelli, Matthew Hesselbirg, Jack Antalek and transfers David Bernard Jr., Anthony Dolce and Jaison Mock to help get the Mavericks back to the ECC Tournament.
Jenkins was named Pitcher of the Year and MVP at Chester Academy, hitting over .500 all four years of high school. Altobelli was named All-League twice and was a four-year varsity starter at Kings Park High School. Hesselbirg was a two-time All-County and two-time All-League recipient at Newfield High School and Antalek was named to the Hudson Valley select senior game.
Bernard transfers to the Mavericks from St. Peter's University and Herkimer Community College. The junior had a 21-game hitting streak while at Herkimer. Dolce comes from Westchester Community College where he was named Second Team All-Region. Mock joins the Mavericks from the College of Saint Rose where he appeared in 19 games, hitting .250 with three RBI and four stolen bases.
Leading the returners on the mound is senior Matthew Manzoeillo who went 3-4 last season with a 4.19 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched. Also returning is graduate student John Gillespie who appeared in 10 games last season making five starts and went 1-3 in 22.2 innings pitched. Junior Ryan Ehret is back after tossing 12.1 innings in 2024 with nine strikeouts and a 1-0 record and senior Jack Sullivan returns after going 3-2 with 15 strikeouts in 25.1 innings. Junior Diego Wirz also returns after tossing 16.1 innings a year ago with 13 strikeouts. Seniors Will Sullo and Gaetano Pennisi and sophomore Jack Esposito also return and will look to make an impact on the mound.
Schoen will also look to freshmen Gordon Votruba, Chase de Castro, Nicholas Stella, Manuel Martinez, Ethan McGarry, Ryan DiNapoli, Omar Giret, Sammy Mendez, Owen Brink and Derek Fernandez and Division I St. Bonaventure transfer Samuel Gil.
De Castro was named All-League as a sophomore and senior at Rutland High School in Vermont, Stella was tabbed All-League at Shoreham-Wading River High School, McGarry was named Suburban Council All Star, DiNapoli was named All-League, All-Section and Comeback Player of the Year at Yorktown High School and Mendez had 120 strikeouts, 14 complete games and a 1.68 ERA at White Plains High School.
Mercy is looking to win their season opener for the second straight year. The Mavericks are 2-4 all-time against Goldey-Beacom. Mercy is 2-15 in their last 17 meetings against Franklin Pierce and have dropped 11 straight meetings to the Ravens. The Mavericks last beat Franklin Pierce on March 18, 2012.
Scouting the Lightning
Goldey-Beacom went 34-21 last season, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. The Lightning were picked second in the CACC South Division Preseason Poll and are currently ranked fourth in the NCBWA East Region Top 10 poll. Leading the returners for Goldey-Beacom is Braden Kolmansberger who was NCBWA Preseason All-Region. The senior was named CACC Player of the Year last season after hitting .334 with 11 home runs, 55 RBI, 47 runs and 18 stolen bases. Christian Petrillo also returns after recording five home runs and 56 hits and Anthony Charles is back after producing 13 doubles, six home runs and three triples. Nate Miller returns on the bump after making 15 appearances with six wins and 62 strikeouts in 70.1 innings pitched.
Scouting the Ravens
Franklin Pierce went 28-20 last season, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. The Ravens were picked second in the NE10 Northeast Division Poll and are currently ranked fifth in the NCBWA East Region Poll. Leading the returners for Franklin Pierce is Kiobel Lugo who had a team-high 54 RBI last season with 11 home runs, 18 doubles and 43 runs scored. Nolan DeAndrade also returns after recording 41 RBI and a team-high 13 home runs in 2024. Leading the returners on the mound is Niklas Pavia who was named NCBWA Preseason All-American after going 5-3 last season with a 2.82 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 54.1 innings. Also returning is Stephen Bangs who went 4-0 last season with 30 strikeouts in 46.2 innings.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Tuesday, February 18th when they face UNC Pembroke in Myrtle Beach at 3 p.m.
