UNIONDALE, N.Y. (Mar. 29, 2025) – Powered by home runs from juniors John Nisco (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) and David Bernard Jr. (Schenectady, N.Y./Herkimer CC) in game two, the Mercy University baseball team dropped a 10-9 decision to ECC foe RV Molloy University in game one before earning an 8-6 win in game two on Saturday afternoon at Mitchel Field.
The Mavericks (16-14, 3-4 ECC) snap a two-game losing streak and defeat the Lions (15-9, 5-2 ECC) for the first time since 2022. Mercy snapped a 14-game losing streak to Molloy with the game two win.
Game 1: Molloy 10, Mercy 9
Mercy took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Nisco walked with one out and Bernard Jr. then hit a two-run home run to left field. The Lions scored a run in the bottom of the first on a Sean Welsh home run to make it 2-1.
Molloy scored two runs in the second inning on two solo home runs to take a 3-2 lead.
Mercy regained the lead in the third inning, scoring three runs to take a 5-3 lead. Sophomore Peyton Jemison (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe Woodbury) reached on a fielder's choice and later scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-3. Junior Zach Ashline (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) then hit a two-run home run to left center, giving Mercy a 5-3 lead.
Molloy scored a run in the third inning on an Aidan Larkin home run to make it 5-4.
The Mavericks added a run in the fourth inning to take a 6-4 lead. Senior Connor Ruland (Islip, N.Y./Islip) singled, junior Kolongi Goins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./FDR) singled and Jemison walked to load the bases. Ruland then scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-4. Molloy scored three runs on a Welsh three-run home run to take a 7-6 lead.
The Lions added a run in the fifth inning to take an 8-6 lead.
Mercy scored two runs in the seventh inning to tie the game at 8-8. Nisco was hit by a pitch, Bernard Jr. doubled and Ashline walked to load the bases. Senior Joseph Gonzalez (Monroe, N.Y./Rockland CC) then singled home Nisco to make it 8-7. Junior Sean McAdams (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlowe) then drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Bernard Jr. to tie the game at 8-8.
The Mavericks took a 9-8 lead in the top of the ninth on an Ashline solo home run to center field. Molloy scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the ninth to earn the 10-9 walk-off win.
Mercy was led by Ashline who went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI. Ashline now has a team-high five home runs on the year. Bernard Jr. went 2-for-5 with his second home run of the season and two RBI. Gonzalez went 2-for-5 with an RBI and McAdams went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Nisco went 1-for-2 with three runs and senior Gabe Sanders (Dunedin, Fla./Central Alabama CC) went 1-for-5. Ruland went 1-for-4 and Goins went 1-for-3. Sophomore Nevin Scaperotti (Stormville, N.Y./Carmel) allowed six runs in 3.0 innings to take a no-decision. Senior Gaetano Pennisi (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) pitched 3.2 innings with no earned runs allowed to take the loss.
Molloy was led by Welsh who went 2-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI. Jayden Patel pitched 2.1 innings with one run allowed to earn the win.
Mercy had 11 hits and two errors and Molloy had 16 hits and one error.
Game 2: Mercy 8, Molloy 6
Mercy took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Jemison walked to lead off the game and later scored on a Gonzalez RBI single to give Mercy the early 1-0 lead. Molloy scored four runs in the bottom of the first to take a 4-1 lead.
The Mavericks scored three runs in the second inning to tie the game at 4-4. Sanders singled and Goins reached on a fielder's choice. Nisco later hit a three-run home run to left field to tie the game at 4-4. Molloy regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning on a Larkin solo home run.
Mercy scored a run in the third inning to tie the game at 5-5. Ashline doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a McAdams RBI double. The Lions scored a run in the bottom of the third to take a 6-5 lead.
The Mavericks regained the lead in the fourth inning. Nisco singled and scored on a Bernard Jr. two-run home run to center field to give Mercy a 7-6 lead.
Mercy made it 8-6 in the fifth inning. McAdams doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a senior Alfred Hoti (New York, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) RBI single.
The combination of senior Matthew Manzoeillo (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon) and freshman Ryan DiNapoli (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) held Molloy scoreless for the final three innings to give Mercy the 8-6 game two win.
Mercy was led by Nisco who went 2-for-4 with his third home run of the season and a game-high three RBI. Bernard Jr. went 2-for-4 with his third home run of the season and two RBI and McAdams went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Hoti went 1-for-2 with an RBI and Ashline went 1-for-3 with a run. Gonzalez went 1-for-4 with an RBI and Sanders went 1-for-2 with his 100th career hit. Manzoeillo allowed four earned runs in 4.2 innings to earn his team-leading fifth win of the season. DiNapoli pitched 2.1 scoreless innings of relief to earn his first career save.
Molloy was led by Larkin who went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Mike Knapp allowed seven runs in 4.0 innings to take the loss.
Mercy had 10 hits and two errors and Molloy had nine hits and no errors.
Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they host Molloy at 12:30 p.m.
