MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Feb. 18, 2025) – Despite an RBI from junior John Nisco (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow), the Mercy University baseball team dropped a 19-1 decision to No. 25/28 UNC Pembroke on Tuesday afternoon at Ripken Park.

The Mavericks (2-3) have dropped two games in a row and fall to the Braves (8-2) for the second straight year.

Mercy was led by Nisco who went 1-for-3 with an RBI and by sophomore Peyton Jemison (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe Woodbury) who went 1-for-3 with a run. Juniors Zach Ashline (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) and Sean McAdams (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlowe) and seniors Joseph Gonzalez (Monroe, N.Y./Rockland CC) and Connor Ruland (Islip, N.Y./Islip) all went 1-for-3. Senior Jaison Mock (New Rochelle, N.Y./The College of Saint Rose) went 1-for-1. Freshman Owen Brink (Hyde Park, N.Y./FDR) made his first collegiate start and went 2.0 innings with four runs allowed and one strikeout to take the loss.

UNC Pembroke was led by Isaias Villarreal who went 4-for-4 with a home run and five RBI.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the third when UNC Pembroke scored five runs on three hits to take a 5-0 lead.

The Braves added two runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-0 lead.

Mercy scored their lone run of the game in the top of the fifth to make it 7-1. Jemison walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring on a Nisco RBI single to right field.

UNC Pembroke scored nine runs in the sixth inning, capped off by a Villarreal grand slam, to take a 16-1 lead. The Braves scored three more runs in the eighth inning to build a 19-1 lead.

Mock singled and freshman Matthew Hesselbirg (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Newfield) walked in the ninth inning, but the Mavericks were unable to score and UNC Pembroke earned the 19-1 win.

Mercy had seven hits and two errors and UNC Pembroke had 16 hits and one error.

Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action on Friday, February 21st when they face Post in Myrtle Beach at 3:30 p.m.