DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – The Mercy University Baseball Team opens its 2026 season on Friday, February 13th when they face Goldey-Beacom College at 6:30 p.m. in Cary, North Carolina. The Mavericks will then face Franklin Pierce University on Saturday, February 14th at 11 a.m. in Cary before facing Franklin Pierce on Sunday, February 15th at 9 a.m. Mercy concludes their Cary stay against Goldey-Beacom on Sunday, February 15th at 1 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Friday, February 13th 6:30 p.m. & Sunday, February 15th 1 p.m.
Records (2025): Mercy (29-24), Goldey-Beacom (34-21)
Location: Cary, North Carolina
Date/Time: Saturday, February 14th 11 a.m. & Sunday, February 15th 9 a.m.
Records (2025): Mercy (29-24), Franklin Pierce (35-22)
Location: Cary, North Carolina
Last Meeting vs. Goldey-Beacom
Mercy earned a 5-3 win over Goldey-Beacom on February 14, 2025.
Last Meeting vs. Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce earned an 8-4 win over Mercy on February 16, 2025.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy enters the 2026 season picked second in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 29-24 overall and 10-10 in ECC play, setting a single-season school record for wins. The Mavericks were picked a program-best second in the ECC Preseason Poll. Mercy looks to qualify for the ECC Tournament for the fifth time in six seasons under Head Coach Chris Schoen.
Leading the returners for the Mavericks is senior John Nisco who was named NCBWA Preseason All-Region. Nisco earned NCBWA and D2CCA Second Team All-Region honors last season after being named First Team All-ECC. The senior hit .337 in 2025 with 66 hits, 50 runs, 56 RBI, nine home runs, nine doubles, five triples, and 13 stolen bases. The outfielder ranked fourth in the ECC in runs, third in home runs and was second in RBI. Nisco set a new single-season school record for RBI and recorded his 100th career hit during the season.
Also returning is senior Kolongi Goins who was named NCBWA Preseason All-Region after being named NCBWA Second Team All-Region last season and First Team All-ECC. The outfielder hit .391 last season with 59 hits, 45 runs, 28 RBI, nine doubles and five stolen bases. Goins ranked second in the ECC in average.
Sophomore Andre Jenkins leads the returners on the mound. The pitcher was named NCBWA Preseason All-Region after being named First Team All-ECC last season. Jenkins went 6-1 with a 3.72 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 67.2 innings pitched. The sophomore tied the single-season school record for wins and led the team in ERA and innings pitched. He was second in the ECC in wins and fourth in ERA. Sophomore Gordon Votruba was named NCBWA Preseason All-Region after earning Second Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC honors last season. Votruba went 0-2 with three saves, a 4.04 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 42.1 innings pitched. The pitcher tied for the team lead in appearances and ranked in the top 10 in the ECC in saves.
Graduate student Alfred Hoti is also back for the Mavericks after being named Second Team All-ECC last season. Hoti hit .275 with 14 RBI and 28 runs scored. Senior Zach Ashline earned Second Team All-ECC honors last year after hitting .279 with 37 RBI, eight home runs and 27 runs scored.
Seniors David Bernard Jr. and Sean McAdams also return in the infield. Bernard Jr. hit .279 with four home runs and 35 RBI to go with 13 doubles. McAdams hit .264 with 25 RBI and 31 runs scored. Graduate student Connor Ruland, senior Anthony Dolce, juniors Joey Bodin and Kyle Engmann, and sophomores Matthew Hesselbirg, Anthony Altobelli and Jack Antalek also return.
Also returning from the pitching staff is junior Nevin Scaperotti who was named ECC Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-ECC in 2024. Last season, Scaperotti made 10 starts on the bump and pitched 54.1 innings with a team-high-tying 43 strikeouts. Sophomore Ryan DiNapoli returns after going 5-1 with a 3.90 ERA, four saves and 18 strikeouts in 27.2 innings. Senior Diego Wirz is back after going 5-2 in nine starts with 43.2 innings with 23 strikeouts and senior Samuel Gil returns after recording a team-high eight saves in 14.2 innings last season. Sophomore Ethan McGarry returns after going 2-0 with 16 strikeouts in 28.2 innings pitched and senior Ryan Ehret, junior Jack Esposito and sophomores Owen Brink, Chase de Castro, Nicholas Stella, Omar Giret and Derek Fernandez also return.
Leading the newcomers is junior Dylan Koch who was named NE10 Southwest Division Rookie Hitter of the Year at Pace University in 2024. Koch hit .305 during his freshman year with 17 runs, 21 RBI and three home runs. Also joining the Mavericks as transfers are sophomore Tate Van Alstyne who transfers from Southern New Hampshire University and Geneo Savoca who joins the Mavericks from University at Albany.
Schoen will also rely on freshmen Kendall Gil, Dylan Ruland, Justin Parodi, Amare Carruthers, Noah Dromerhauser, Luke Esposito, Jose Ulloa, Marcus Fiallo, Aydan Wayne and Shane Driscoll.
Mercy is looking to win their season opener for the second time in three seasons. The Mavericks are 3-5 all-time against Goldey-Beacom and are 3-16 in their last 19 meetings against Franklin Pierce.
Scouting the Lightning
Goldey-Beacom went 34-21 last season, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. The Lightning were picked fourth in the CACC Preseason Poll. Goldey-Beacom is ranked No. 8 in the NCBWA Preseason East Region Top 10 Poll. Leading the returners for the Lightning is Brent Williams who hit .306 with 34 RBI, 29 runs, and 38 hits. Also returning is Bobby Stewart who hit .288 with 46 RBI, 11 home runs, 43 runs and 21 stolen bases. Leading the returners on the pitching staff is Connor Blence who went 5-1 with a 3.68 ERA in 51.1 innings with 48 strikeouts. Zach Davis returns after going 5-0 with a 4.74 ERA in 19.0 innings.
Scouting the Ravens
Franklin Pierce went 35-22 last season, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. The Ravens were picked third in the NE10 Preseason Poll. Franklin Pierce is ranked No. 5 in the NCBWA Preseason East Region Top 10 Poll. Leading the returners for the Ravens is Joey Acker who hit a team-high .382 last season with 33 RBI, 78 hits, 47 runs and 13 stolen bases. Also returning is Ivan Arias who had 31 RBI, 39 runs and 11 stolen bases last season. Leading the pitching staff is Stephen Bangs who went 4-1 with a 5.34 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 32.0 innings pitched. Matt Lee returns after leading the team with three saves last year.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Tuesday, February 17th when they play at UNC Pembroke at 3 p.m.
