COLONIA, N.J. – The Mercy University Baseball Team has been picked to finish second in the ECC Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference office earlier today.

The second-place ranking is the highest ranking in program history. Molloy received all six first-place votes to top the poll. D'Youville's Billy Morris and Molloy's James Sill were named the Preseason Player and Pitcher of the Year.

The Mavericks are also receiving votes in the NCBWA East Region Top 10 Poll after going 29-24 last season, setting a school record for wins in a season and qualifying for the ECC Championship for the fourth time in five seasons.

Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks return three NCBWA All-Region selections from a year ago and six ECC All-Conference recipients. Leading the returners is senior John Nisco who was named NCBWA Second Team All-Region, D2CCA Second Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC last season. Nisco hit .337 last season with 66 hits, 50 runs, 56 RBI, nine home runs and nine doubles. Also returning is senior Kolongi Goins who was named NCBWA Second Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC after hitting .391 with 59 hits, 45 runs, 28 RBI and nine doubles. Sophomore Gordon Votruba returns after earning NCBWA Second Team NCBWA All-Region honors last year after recording three saves and a 4.04 ERA in 42.1 innings. Sophomore Andre Jenkins returns after being named First Team All-ECC following a season in which he went 6-1 with a team-best 3.72 ERA in 67.2 innings with 43 strikeouts. Graduate student Alfred Hoti was named Second Team All-ECC last season and returns after hitting .275 with 14 RBI and 28 runs scored. Senior Zach Ashline returns after being named Second Team All-ECC a year ago. Ashline hit .279 with 37 RBI, eight home runs and 27 runs scored in 2025.

Schoen and the Mavericks open their 2026 season on Friday, February 13th when they face Goldey-Beacom at 6:30 p.m. in Cary, North Carolina.