NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — A series of big offensive innings lifted Mercy University to a 19–5 victory over the Saints on Sunday afternoon at Sal Maglie Stadium.
The Saints were able to strike first in the opening inning. Billy Morris reached base on a defensive miscue before Cooper Cefaratti worked a walk to put two runners aboard. Cefaratti later stole home to get D'Youville on the board, and Jake Hollins followed with an RBI single to right field that brought Morris across, giving the Saints a quick 2–0 advantage after one.
Mercy answered in the second inning with four runs to take control of the game. Zach Ashline and Nevin Scaperotti opened the frame with back-to-back hits before an RBI single by Anthony Altobelli and a sacrifice fly by Matthew Hesselbirg evened the score. A wild pitch and a throwing error allowed two more runs to cross, putting Mercy ahead 4–2.
The Mavs continued to add on in the middle innings, but D'Youville chipped away in the fifth. Blaise Kolbert worked a walk and Morris followed with a double to put runners at second and third. Colby Wilson lifted a sacrifice fly to score Kolbert, and Austin Smith later drove in Morris on a groundout to trim the deficit to 7–4.
Mercy broke the game open in the sixth inning with a six-run frame. After Geneo Savoca reached on an error, Ashline launched a three-run home run to extend the lead. Additional defensive miscues allowed the visitors to plate more runs in the inning as the margin grew to 13–4.
D'Youville added another run in the eighth. Smith was hit by a pitch and later came around to score on an RBI single from Anthony Consiglio to make it 16–5.
Mercy added three more runs in the ninth inning to secure the 19–5 final.
Offensively, Morris led the Saints with two runs scored and a double, while also logging five innings on the mound with one strikeout. Jake Ferris recorded two hits, including a double, while Hollins and Consiglio each drove in a run.
On the mound, Sean Glinski worked a scoreless inning, allowing one hit, while Evan Froelich added an inning with one strikeout.
Next up for D'youville, they'll head to Erie, Pa. to take on Gannon University on Tuesday, March 31st.
