DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Feb. 17, 2025) – The Mercy University baseball team plays at #25 UNC Pembroke on Tuesday, February 18th at 3 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Tuesday, February 18th 3 p.m.
Records: Mercy (2-2), #25 UNC Pembroke (7-2)
Location: Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Ripken Park)
Last Meeting vs. UNC Pembroke
UNC Pembroke earned a 12-7 win over Mercy on February 20, 2024.
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 coming off a 11-10 win and 8-4 loss to regionally-ranked Franklin Pierce on Sunday. The Mavericks have been led by sophomore Peyton Jemison who is hitting .313 with a home run and a team-high-tying three RBI. Junior David Bernard Jr. is hitting a team-high .375 with two RBI and junior John Nisco is hitting .313 with three RBI and four runs scored. Junior Sean McAdams has a team-high-tying three RBI and junior Zach Ashline is hitting .333 with a home run and an RBI. The pitching staff has been led by sophomore Nevin Scaperotti who has pitched a team-high 10.2 innings with a 1.69 ERA and eight strikeouts in two appearances. Freshman Andre Jenkins is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 6.0 innings with four strikeouts and junior Diego Wirz has pitched 4.0 innings with a 4.50 ERA. Freshman Ryan DiNapoli is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 1.2 innings and junior Samuel Gil has two saves with a 0.00 ERA in 2.2 innings.
Mercy looks to improve to 2-1 against UNC Pembroke with a win. With a win, Mercy would start 3-2 for the first time since 2021.
Scouting the Braves
UNC Pembroke is coming off a 6-2 win over Shepherd on Saturday. The Braves were picked second in the Conference Carolinas Preseason Poll after going 43-14 last season, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. UNC Pembroke is ranked No. 25 nationally in the D2 Baseball Top 25 Rankings released Monday. UNC Pembroke has been led by Kasen McCawley who is batting a team-high .368 with six RBI. Will Hood is hitting .353 with eight RBI and 12 hits to go with 10 runs and Luis Ramirez is hitting .308 with two RBI and a team-high 12 runs and 10 stolen bases. Blake Hinson has a team-high nine RBI and Jonathon Jacobs has pitched a team-high 16.0 innings with a 1-0 record, 2.25 ERA and 14 strikeouts. HL Smith is 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA in 12.1 innings with 11 strikeouts and Seth Willis is 1-0 with a 3.37 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 10.2 innings.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Friday, February 21st when they face Post in Myrtle Beach at 3:30 p.m.
