NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (Apr. 13, 2025) – Powered by seven different Mavericks recording an RBI and 2.2 scoreless innings of relief from freshman Ryan DiNapoli (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) to earn the win, the Mercy University baseball team overcame a 6-0 deficit to earn a 9-6 win over ECC foe D'Youville University on Sunday afternoon at Sal Maglie Stadium.
The Mavericks (22-18, 8-8 ECC) earn their fourth ECC series split of the season and now have their most wins in a season since 1990. The Saints (10-24, 4-4 ECC) earn their second straight ECC series split.
Mercy was led by sophomore Peyton Jemison (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe Woodbury) who went 3-for-6 with an RBI. Junior John Nisco (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) went 1-for-5 with two RBI and senior Joseph Gonzalez (Monroe, N.Y./Rockland CC) went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Junior Sean McAdams (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlowe) went 1-for-4 and senior Gabe Sanders (Dunedin, Fla./Central Alabama CC) went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Junior Zach Ashline (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) went 1-for-5 and freshman Matthew Hesselbirg (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Newfield) went 1-for-2 with his second home run of the season. Senior Alfred Hoti (New York, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI and junior Kolongi Goins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./FDR) went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Junior Diego Wirz (Stamford, Conn./Stamford) allowed five runs in 1.0 innings to earn a no-decision. Freshman Gordon Votruba (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham Wading River) pitched a career-high 5.1 innings with one run allowed and DiNapoli pitched the final 2.2 innings with no runs allowed to earn his fifth win of the season.
D'Youville was led by Lucas Penner who went 1-for-4 with two RBI. Jakob Denall allowed four runs in 1.0 innings of relief to take the loss.
The Saints scored five runs in the first inning and a run in the third inning to take a 6-0 lead.
Mercy inched closer with three runs in the fourth inning to make it 6-3. Sanders reached on an error by the shortstop and Ashline reached on a fielder's choice. After a flyout, Hoti doubled to left field, scoring Sanders to make it 6-1. Goins then grounded out to shortstop, scoring Ashline to make it 6-2 and Jemison singled home Hoti to make it 6-3.
The Mavericks scored another run in the sixth inning to make it 6-4. Goins and Jemison recorded back-to-back singles with one out before Nisco singled home Goins.
The score remained 6-4 until the eighth inning when Mercy scored five runs to take a 9-6 lead. Hesselbirg led off the inning with a home run to left field, making it 6-5. Hoti and Goins were hit by a pitch before Jemison singled to load the bases. Nisco then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Hoti to tie the game at 6-6. Goins then scored on a wild pitch to give Mercy a 7-6 lead. Gonzalez then singled home Jemison to put the Mavericks up, 8-6, and Sanders later singled home Gonzalez to give Mercy a 9-6 lead.
DiNapoli pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth innings to close out the game, giving Mercy a 9-6 win.
Mercy had 16 hits and no errors and D'Youville had 11 hits and three errors.
Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action on Friday, April 18th when they play at Lincoln at 3 p.m.
