DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Powered by strong pitching performances from sophomore Andre Jenkins (Chester, N.Y./Chester Academy) and junior Nevin Scaperotti (Stormville, N.Y./Carmel) and a walk-off RBI single from sophomore Anthony Altobelli (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) in game two, the Mercy University Baseball Team earned 6-3 and 2-1 wins over ECC foe #27 St. Thomas Aquinas College on Friday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (11-9, 5-1 ECC) have won five games in a row and sweep a doubleheader against the Spartans (13-5, 4-2 ECC) for the first time since 2022.
Game 1: Mercy 6, STAC 3
Mercy took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. Altobelli led off the inning with a single and later scored after senior John Nisco (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) reached on a fielder's choice.
STAC scored three runs in the fifth inning to take a 3-1 lead. Ryan Hillery recorded an RBI single and C.J. Cumbo hit a two-run home run. The Mavericks scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-3 lead. Senior Kolongi Goins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./FDR) singled and later scored on an Altobelli sacrifice fly to make it 3-2. Junior Dylan Koch (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Pace University) and sophomore Matthew Hesselbirg (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Newfield) then singled before Nisco singled home Koch to tie the game at 3-3. Senior Zach Ashline (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) then singled home Hesselbirg to give Mercy a 4-3 lead.
Mercy tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth inning to take a 6-3 lead. Sophomore Geneo Savoca (Albany, N.Y./University at Albany) reached on an error and later scored on a Goins double to make it 5-3. Altobelli then singled home Goins to give Mercy a 6-3 lead.
Freshman Dylan Ruland (Islip, N.Y./Islip) pitched a scoreless top of the ninth to earn his first collegiate save and give Mercy a 6-3 game one win.
Mercy was led by Goins who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and his 100th career hit. Altobelli went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Nisco went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Hesselbirg went 3-for-4 and Ashline went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Koch went 1-for-5 and Jenkins pitched 8.0 innings with three runs allowed and six strikeouts to earn his second win of the season. Ruland pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his first career save.
STAC was led by Cumbo who went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Andrew Schoelles allowed four runs in 5.0 innings to take the loss.
Mercy had 12 hits and one error and STAC had six hits and three errors.
Game 2: Mercy 2, STAC 1
Mercy took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Koch singled and stole second before advancing to third on a Hesselbirg single. Nisco then fouled out to second base, allowing Koch to score to make it 1-0.
Scaperotti pitched six shutout innings until allowing a run in the seventh inning on a Joshua Mccormick RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.
The Mavericks walked it off with a run in the bottom of the seventh. Ashline singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second after a groundout. Junior Kyle Engmann (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) walked after a STAC pitching change and graduate student Connor Ruland (Islip, N.Y./Islip) sacrificed the runners to second and third. Goins was then intentionally walked to load the bases before Altobelli singled home Ashline on a 3-2 count to give Mercy the 2-1 walk-off win.
Mercy was led by Altobelli who went 2-for-4 with an RBI and by Scaperotti who pitched a complete game with one run allowed and four strikeouts to earn his third win of the year. Ruland went 1-for-2 and Koch and Ashline both went 1-for-3 with a run. Hesselbirg went 1-for-3.
STAC was led by Anthony Dimarco who went 1-for-3 with a run. Christian Simonsen allowed one run in 1.1 innings to take the loss.
Mercy had six hits and no errors and STAC had four hits and no errors.
Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they host Molloy for a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.
