DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 26, 2025) – Despite home runs from senior Alfred Hoti (New York, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) and juniors John Nisco (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) and Zach Ashline (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central), the Mercy University baseball team dropped a 10-8 decision in 12 innings to ECC foe Queens College on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon at Mercy Field.

In a ceremony prior to the game, the Mavericks honored seniors Joseph Gonzalez (Monroe, N.Y./Rockland CC), Gabe Sanders (Dunedin, Fla./Central Alabama CC), Will Sullo (Valley Cottage, N.Y./Rockland CC), Matthew Manzoeillo (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon), Frankie Asaro (East Williston, N.Y./Wheatley), Connor Ruland (Islip, N.Y./Islip), Jaison Mock (New Rochelle, N.Y./College of Saint Rose) and Hoti for their contributions to the program.

The Mavericks (26-20, 9-9 ECC) see their two-game winning streak come to an end, while the Knights (15-23, 6-8 ECC) have won two of their last three games.

Mercy was led by Nisco who went 2-for-4 with his ninth home run of the season and three RBI. Nisco now has 50 RBI on the year, tying the single-season school record previously set by John Mooradian in 2019. Ashline went 1-for-5 with his eighth home run of the season and two RBI. Hoti went 2-for-4 with his first home run of the season and one RBI. Sophomore Peyton Jemison (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe Woodbury) went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Jemison now has 16 doubles on the year, tying the single season school record previously set by Greg Bolger in 1984. Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with an RBI and junior David Bernard Jr. (Schenectady, N.Y./Herkimer CC), Sanders and junior Sean McAdams (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlowe) went 1-for-6. Manzoeillo pitched 0.2 innings to take a no-decision. Freshman Gordon Votruba (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham Wading River) allowed two earned runs in 6.0 innings of relief to take the loss.

Queens was led by Nick O'Conner who went 4-for-7 with three RBI. Mike Vilardi pitched 3.2 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win.

The Knights scored two runs in the third inning to take a 2-0. Mercy scored a run in the bottom of the third to make it 2-1. Hoti singled to lead off the inning and scored on a Jemison double to left center.

Queens recorded three runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-1 lead.

The Mavericks exploded for five runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-5 lead. Hoti led off the inning with a home run to left field, making it 5-2. Jemison later singled before Nisco hit a two-run home run to left field, making it 5-4. Bernard Jr. followed with a single before Ashline homered to left field, giving Mercy a 6-5 lead.

Queens tied the game at 6-6 in the seventh inning on a Penn Sealey RBI double. Mercy regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a run to make it 7-6. Jemison singled to lead off the inning and scored after Gonzalez grounded out on a squeeze attempt.

The Knights scored two runs in the eighth inning to take an 8-7 lead. Mercy tied the score in the bottom of the eighth after Nisco drew a bases-loaded walk, making it 8-8.

Neither team scored in the ninth inning, sending the game into extra innings. The game remained tied at 8-8 until the 12th inning when a Peter Bounougias RBI single and an O'Conner RBI single gave Queens a 10-8 lead. Mercy could not score in the bottom of the 12th, giving the Knights the 10-8 win.

Mercy had 13 hits and one error and Queens had 19 hits and three errors.

Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they play at Queens for a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.