FLUSHING, N.Y. (Apr. 27, 2025) – Powered by home runs from senior Connor Ruland (Islip, N.Y./Islip), junior Sean McAdams (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlowe) and sophomore Peyton Jemison (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe Woodbury) on the day, the Mercy University baseball team earned a 7-6 win over ECC foe Queens College in game one before dropping a 13-11 decision in game two on Sunday afternoon at Hennekens Stadium.

The Mavericks (27-21, 10-10 ECC) earn a season series split with the Knights (16-24, 7-9 ECC). Mercy now has a school-record 27 wins on the season, surpassing the previous record of 26 set in 1990. The Mavericks finish .500 or better in ECC play for the first time since 2022. Mercy has secured their fourth ECC Championship berth in five seasons.

Game 1: Mercy 7, Queens 6

Queens scored three runs in the first inning to take a 3-0 lead.

The Mavericks scored a run in the second inning on a McAdams home run to right center, making it 3-1. The Knights added a run in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-1 lead.

Queens recorded two more runs in the fourth inning to take a 6-1 lead.

Mercy got a run back in the eighth inning when Ruland led off the inning with a home run to left field, making it 6-2.

The Mavericks exploded for five runs in the ninth inning to take a 7-6 lead. Senior Alfred Hoti (New York, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) walked to lead off the inning and junior David Bernard Jr. (Schenectady, N.Y./Herkimer CC) singled. McAdams was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Senior Gabe Sanders (Dunedin, Fla./Central Alabama CC) then drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Hoti to make it 6-3. Ruland hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring senior Jaison Mock (New Rochelle, N.Y./College of Saint Rose) to make it 6-4. Junior Kolongi Goins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./FDR) singled to load the bases again before Jemison singled home McAdams and Sanders to tie the game at 6-6. Junior John Nisco (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Goins to score to give Mercy a 7-6 lead. Freshman Ryan DiNapoli (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to close out the win, giving the Mavericks the 7-6 game one win.

Mercy was led by Jemison who went 3-for-5 with two RBI. McAdams went 2-for-3 with an RBI and his second home run of the season. Ruland went 1-for-3 with two RBI and his first career home run and Bernard Jr. went 1-for-4. Senior Joseph Gonzalez (Monroe, N.Y./Rockland CC) went 1-for-5 and Goins went 1-for-3. Senior Gaetano Pennisi (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) allowed five runs in 3.0 innings to take a no-decision. Junior Diego Wirz (Stamford, Conn./Stamford) allowed one run in 5.0 innings to earn his fifth win of the season. DiNapoli recorded his third save of the year.

Queens was led by Penn Sealey who went 1-for-3 with three RBI. Mike Vilardi allowed two runs in 0.1 innings to take the loss.

Mercy had nine hits and no errors and Queens had six hits and no errors.

Game 2: Queens 13, Mercy 11

Queens took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Mercy scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 2-2. Jemison singled to lead off the inning and later scored on a Bernard Jr. RBI single to make it 2-1. Gonzalez scored after McAdams reached on an error by the third baseman, tying the game at 2-2.

The Knights scored four runs in the second inning to take a 6-2 lead. Mercy got two runs back in the bottom of the inning to make it 6-4. Hoti singled to lead off the inning and scored on a Nisco RBI single to make it 6-3. Junior Zach Ashline (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) singled home Nisco to make it 6-4.

Queens recorded two runs in the fourth and five runs in the sixth inning to take a 13-4 lead. The Mavericks battled back with six runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it 13-10. Sanders walked to lead off the inning and scored on a Hoti double, making it 13-5. After a groundout, Jemison hit a two-run home run to left field, cutting Queens' lead to 13-7. Nisco was hit by a pitch and Gonzalez walked before Ashline doubled home Nisco to make it 13-8. Gonzalez later scored on a wild pitch to make it 13-9 and freshman Matthew Hesselbirg (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Newfield) hit a sacrifice fly that scored Ashline to make it 13-10.

Mercy plated a run in the bottom of the seventh to make it 13-11. Sanders doubled to start the inning and scored on a Jemison groundout. A flyout to center field ended the game, giving Queens the 13-11 game two win.

Mercy was led by Jemison who went 2-for-5 with three RBI and his second home run of the season. Nisco went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Nisco now has 52 RBI on the season, setting a single-season school record. He surpasses the previous record of 50 set by John Mooradian in 2019. Gonzalez went 1-for-2 with two runs and Ashline went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Bernard Jr. went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Sanders went 1-for-3 with two runs. Hoti went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Goins went 1-for-2. Freshman Owen Brink (Hyde Park, N.Y./FDR) allowed five runs in 1.0 inning to take the loss. Senior Will Sullo (Valley Cottage, N.Y./Rockland CC) pitched 1.2 scoreless innings of relief.

Queens was led by Rob Jacobsen who went 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBI. Reynaldo Angeles pitched 3.1 innings of relief with five runs allowed to earn the win. Severino Napolitano allowed two runs in 1.2 innings to earn the save.

Mercy had 12 hits and no errors and Queens had 10 hits and one error.

Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action on Tuesday when they host Adelphi at 3 p.m.