DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Powered by seven innings pitched with no earned runs allowed by junior Nevin Scaperotti (Stormville, N.Y./Carmel) and a game-high two RBI from senior Zach Ashline (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) and junior Dylan Koch (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Pace University) in game one, the Mercy University Baseball Team earned a 6-1 win over Southern Connecticut State University before falling 8-2 in the nightcap on Sunday afternoon in their home opener at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (6-4) start 6-4 for the second straight year and are 4-2 in their last six meetings against the Owls (3-6).
Game 1: Mercy 6, Southern Connecticut State 1
The Owls scored an unearned run in the top of the first on a Bam Talavera double to take a 1-0 lead. Mercy tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the first. Koch walked to lead off the inning and later scored on an Ashline double.
The score stayed 1-1 until the third inning when Mercy scored a run to take a 2-1. Ashline singled and stole second before advancing to third on an error by the catcher. Senior David Bernard Jr. (Schenectady, N.Y./Herkimer CC) then singled home Ashline to give Mercy the lead.
Scaperotti kept the Mavericks ahead 2-1 through the seventh inning when the Mavericks scored another run to take a 3-1 lead. Senior John Nisco (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) singled and scored on an Ashline double to give Mercy the lead.
The Mavericks tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth to take a 6-1 lead. Graduate student Alfred Hoti (New York, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) and senior Kolongi Goins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./FDR) singled to put runners on first and third. Goins then stole second before Koch singled home Hoti and Goins to put the Mavericks up, 5-1. Sophomore Anthony Altobelli (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) then doubled before Nisco grounded out to third, scoring Koch to make it 6-1.
Sophomore Gordon Votruba (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham Wading River) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to give Mercy the 6-1 game one win.
Mercy was led by Scaperotti who pitched 7.0 innings with no earned runs and five hits allowed to go with seven strikeouts to earn his first win of the season. Votruba pitched the final 2.0 innings without allowing a run to earn his first save of the season. Ashline went 4-for-4 with two RBI and Koch went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Altobelli went 2-for-5 and Hoti went 2-for-4. Senior Sean McAdams (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlowe) went 1-for-4 recording his 100th career hit and Nisco and Bernard Jr. both went 1-for-5 with an RBI. Goins went 1-for-4 and sophomore Geneo Savoca (Albany, N.Y./University at Albany) went 1-for-2.
Southern Connecticut State was led by Talavera who went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Bailey Goss allowed one earned run in 5.0 innings to take the loss.
Mercy had 15 hits and three errors and Southern Connecticut State had six hits and one error.
Game 2: Southern Connecticut State 8, Mercy 2
The Owls scored a run in the first and second innings to take a 2-0 lead and tacked on three runs in the third to take a 5-0 lead. Mercy plated two runs in the bottom of the third to make it 5-2. Goins singled and stole second before scoring on a Koch triple to make it 5-1. Scaperotti then singled home Koch to make it 5-2.
Southern Connecticut State added one run in the fourth and two runs in the sixth to come away with the 8-2 game two win.
Mercy was led by Koch and Scaperotti who both went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Goins went 2-for-3 and Nisco went 1-for-2. Sophomore Andre Jenkins (Chester, N.Y./Chester Academy) allowed six runs in 3.1 innings to take the loss. Freshman Dylan Ruland (Islip, N.Y./Islip) pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
The Owls were led by Devin Pelletier who went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Jace Alvino pitched a complete game with two earned runs allowed to earn the win.
Mercy had five hits and no errors and Southern Connecticut State had 10 hits and no errors.
Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action on Friday, March 6th when they play at Pace for a doubleheader at 2 and 5 p.m.
