DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Despite a team-high two RBI on the day from senior Zach Ashline (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) and sophomore Matthew Hesselbirg (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Newfield) and a home run from junior Kyle Engmann (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River), the Mercy University Baseball Team dropped 12-5 and 5-2 decisions to ECC foe RV Molloy University on Saturday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (19-16, 10-7 ECC) have dropped three games in a row and have dropped six straight meetings to the Lions (23-7, 15-2 ECC).
Game 1: Molloy 12, Mercy 5
Molloy took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a Sean Welsh sacrifice fly.
The Lions added seven runs on five hits in the third inning to take an 8-0 lead. Mercy responded with five runs in the bottom of the third to make it 8-5. Senior Kolongi Goins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./FDR) reached on a fielder's choice and junior Dylan Koch (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Pace University) singled before junior Nevin Scaperotti (Stormville, N.Y./Carmel) doubled home Goins to make it 8-1. Ashline then singled down the left field line, scoring Koch and Scaperotti to make it 8-3. Hesselbirg later singled home Ashline and senior John Nisco (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) to make it 8-5.
Molloy scored three runs in the eighth and a run in the ninth to take a 12-5 lead. Mercy went down in order in the bottom of the ninth, giving Molloy the 12-5 game-one win.
Mercy was led by Ashline who went 1-for-4 with two RBI and by Hesselbirg who went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Scaperotti went 1-for-4 with an RBI and Nisco went 2-for-4. Koch went 1-for-4 and sophomore Ryan DiNapoli (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) allowed seven earned runs in 2.2 innings to take the loss. Sophomore Geneo Savoca (Albany, N.Y./University at Albany) pitched 5.1 innings of relief with no earned runs allowed and six strikeouts.
Molloy was led by Mike Sweeney who went 3-for-5 with three RBI. JC Kiss allowed five runs in 6.0 innings to earn the win and Dylan Schriver pitched 3.0 scoreless innings of relief to earn the save.
Mercy had six hits and four errors and Molloy had 12 hits and no errors.
Game 2: Molloy 5, Mercy 2
Molloy took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on a Charlie Imhof three-run home run.
The Mavericks scored a run in the bottom of the first to make it 3-1. Koch singled and stole second before scoring on an error by the pitcher after a failed pickoff attempt.
Engmann made it 3-2 in the second inning when he hit a solo home run to right field.
Molloy scored two more runs in the third inning on a Jack Coogan two-run single to make it 5-2.
Mercy was unable to score again, giving Molloy the 5-2 game-two win and the sweep.
Mercy was led by Engmann who went 1-for-2 with his first home run of the season and one RBI. Graduate student Connor Ruland (Islip, N.Y./Islip) went 1-for-2 and Ashline and Koch both went 1-for-3. Sophomore Andre Jenkins (Chester, N.Y./Chester Academy) pitched a complete game with three earned runs allowed and four strikeouts to take the loss.
Molloy was led by Imhof who went 1-for-3 with three RBI. Mike Knapp pitched a complete game with one earned run allowed and 10 strikeouts to earn the win.
Mercy had four hits and one error and Molloy had seven hits and one error.
Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they play at Molloy at 12 p.m.
