NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – Powered by eight shutout innings pitched from junior Nevin Scaperotti (Stormville, N.Y./Carmel) and a game-high two RBI from sophomore Anthony Altobelli (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) in game one, the Mercy University Baseball Team earned a 7-2 win at ECC foe D'Youville University before falling 4-2 in the nightcap on Friday afternoon at Sal Maglie Stadium.
The Mavericks (12-13, 6-4 ECC) snap a three-game losing streak with the game one win, while the Saints (9-15, 4-6 ECC) snap a two-game losing streak with the game two win.
Game 1: Mercy 7, D'Youville 2
Mercy took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Senior David Bernard Jr. (Schenectady, N.Y./Herkimer CC) led off the inning with a walk and senior Kolongi Goins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./FDR) singled. Senior John Nisco (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) later hit a sacrifice fly to center field, giving Mercy a 1-0 lead.
The Mavericks made it 2-0 in the fourth inning. Senior Zach Ashline (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) singled to lead off the inning and later scored on a Goins RBI single.
Mercy tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning to take a 4-0 lead. Sophomore Geneo Savoca (Albany, N.Y./University at Albany) tripled to the lead off the inning and Nisco walked. Nisco later stole second before Altobelli hit a double to left field, scoring Savoca and Nisco.
The Mavericks added three runs in the sixth inning to take a 7-0 lead. Goins singled and stole second before junior Dylan Koch (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Pace University) tripled Goins home to make it 5-0. Savoca then singled home Koch to give Mercy a 6-0 lead. Nisco then singled and Savoca later scored on an error by the catcher to make it 7-0.
That would be all the run support Scaperotti would need as he allowed just two hits in eight shutout innings.
D'Youville scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to make it 7-2, but freshman Dylan Ruland (Islip, N.Y./Islip) recorded a strikeout with the bases loaded to give Mercy the 7-2 game-one win.
Mercy was led by Scaperotti who pitched 8.0 innings with nine strikeouts and two hits allowed to earn his fourth win of the season. Altobelli went 1-for-5 with two RBI and Savoca went 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. Goins went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Nisco went 1-for-2 with an RBI. Koch went 1-for-5 with an RBI and Ashline went 1-for-5. Graduate student Alfred Hoti (New York, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) went 1-for-3.
D'Youville was led by Colby Wilson who went 1-for-2 with a run. Ty Graczyk allowed four runs in 5.0 innings with six strikeouts to take the loss.
Mercy had 11 hits and two errors and D'Youville had three hits and four errors.
Game 2: D'Youville 4, Mercy 2
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when D'Youville scored three runs to take a 3-0 lead.
The Saints added a run in the fifth inning on a Cooper Cefaratti RBI single to make it 4-0.
The Mavericks scored two runs in the sixth inning to make it 4-2. Koch was hit by a pitch and stole second and third before scoring on a Nisco sacrifice fly to left field. Scaperotti later singled home Savoca to make it 4-2.
Mercy went down in order in the top of the seventh, giving D'Youville the 4-2 game-two win.
Mercy was led by Scaperotti who went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Savoca went 1-for-2 with a run and Altobelli and sophomore Matthew Hesselbirg (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Newfield) went 1-for-3. Sophomore Ryan DiNapoli (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) allowed four runs in 5.0 innings to take the loss. Senior Diego Wirz (Stamford, Conn./Stamford) pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
D'Youville was led by Cefaratti who went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Jakob Denall pitched 6.0 innings with two runs allowed to earn the win. Mihir Manerikar pitched a scoreless seventh inning to earn the save.
Mercy had four hits and one error and D'Youville had eight hits and one error.
Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they play at D'Youville at 12 p.m.
