DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Powered by a team-high three RBI on the day from senior Zach Ashline (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) and wins from junior Nevin Scaperotti (Stormville, N.Y./Carmel) and sophomore Andre Jenkins (Chester, N.Y./Chester Academy), the Mercy University Baseball Team earned 8-1 and 5-2 wins over ECC foe College of Staten Island on Friday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (16-13, 10-4 ECC) have won four games in a row and five of their last six games. Mercy has won five of their last six meetings against the Dolphins (7-14, 4-9 ECC).
Game 1: Mercy 8, Staten Island 1
Mercy took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Senior Kolongi Goins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./FDR) singled to lead off the inning and later scored on a senior John Nisco (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) groundout to shortstop.
The Mavericks made it 2-0 in the fourth inning. Senior Sean McAdams (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlowe) walked and stole second before scoring on a sophomore Matthew Hesselbirg (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Newfield) single.
Mercy tacked on five runs in the fifth inning to take a 7-0 lead. Junior Dylan Koch (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Pace University) led off the inning with a double and Nisco was hit by a pitch. Ashline later doubled both Koch and Nisco home to make it 4-0. Graduate student Alfred Hoti (New York, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) later singled home Ashline to make it 5-0 and Goins singled home sophomore Anthony Altobelli (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) and McAdams to make it 7-0.
Scaperotti held the Dolphins scoreless until the eighth inning when they scored an unearned run to make it 7-1. The Mavericks added a run in the bottom of the inning to make it 8-1. Nisco singled and stole second before scoring on an error by the shortstop after Ashline reached on a fielder's choice.
Freshman Dylan Ruland (Islip, N.Y./Islip) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to give Mercy the 8-1 game-one win.
Mercy was led by Ashline who went 3-for-5 with two RBI and his 100th career run scored. Ashline becomes the 11th Maverick in program history to score 100 runs. Goins went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Nisco went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Hesselbirg went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Hoti went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Koch went 1-for-2 and Scaperotti allowed no earned runs in 8.0 innings with one strikeout to earn his fifth win of the season.
Staten Island was led by Michael Flashner who went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Michael Furst allowed seven runs in 4.2 innings to take the loss.
Mercy had 10 hits and two errors and Staten Island had five hits and two errors.
Game 2: Mercy 5, Staten Island 2
Mercy took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Geneo Savoca (Albany, N.Y./University at Albany) singled and later scored after a double steal attempt.
Staten Island scored two runs in the third inning on a Jason Romance home run to take a 2-1 lead. The Mavericks regained the lead with three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-2 lead. Hoti doubled and Goins and Koch singled to load the bases. Savoca then singled to left center, scoring Hoti and Goins to give Mercy a 3-2 lead. Ashline later singled home Koch to make it 4-2.
Mercy added an insurance run in the sixth inning to take a 5-2 lead. Nisco doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a Scaperotti single to right field.
Jenkins pitched a scoreless seventh inning to give Mercy the 5-2 game-two win and the sweep.
Mercy was led by Savoca who went 2-for-3 with two RBI and by Ashline who went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Scaperotti went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Nisco went 2-for-3. Koch, Hesselbirg and Hoti all went 1-for-3 and Goins went 1-for-2. Jenkins pitched a complete game with two runs allowed and three strikeouts to earn his fourth win of the season.
Staten Island was led by Romance who went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Nick Chiaia allowed five runs in a complete game to take the loss.
Mercy had 11 hits and one error and Staten Island had eight hits and no errors.
Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they host Staten Island for a non-conference doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.
