KINGS POINT, N.Y. - The Purchase College baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, falling to the United States Merchant Marine Academy by the scores of 9-4 and 6-4.

The losses dropped the Panthers to 5-11 overall and 2-10 in Skyline Conference games. As for the Mariners of USMMA, the hosts improved to 7-0 and 6-0 respectively.

Game one started slowly for both sides outside of a first-inning run for Merchant Marine. Purchase was held off the scoreboard until the top of the fourth, when Matthew Nilsen (SR/Bellmore, NY) broke the scoreless streak with an RBI-single.

USMMA quickly answered back though, as it knocked in two runs in the bottom half of the inning to make it 3-1.

The Panthers cut into that margin one frame later, when Dylan Flynn (SR/Smithtown, NY) knocked in a run during a Merchant Marine error. However, the hosts stomped out any chance of a comeback immediately afterwords by scoring four more runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Even with two RBIs from Josh Ferro (SR/Queens, NY) in the seventh, the Panthers still fell in the contest by the score of 9-4.

James May (JR/Floral Park, NY) and Nilsen each finished with two hits in the defeat. On the mound, Ryan Kozersky (SR/Mount Kisco, NY) was tagged with the loss after he allowed three runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings of work. 

Game two started out better for the guests, as Louis Carvell (SO/New York, NY) started things off with an RBI-single in the top of the first inning. A few batters later, Max Vera (JR/Bethpage, NY) drew a bases-loaded walk to push the Panthers' advantage to 2-0.

The score remained 2-0 until the fourth, when USMMA cut it in half with an RBI-single of its own. However, one inning later, Tighe Jorgensen (SR/Fairfield, CT) stole home to push the lead back up to two runs.

Unfortunately for Purchase, the bats of Merchant Marine woke up during the fifth and six frames, as the hosts turned the 3-1 deficit into a 6-3 lead. The Panthers had one final chance in the seventh inning, when Emmanuel Perez (FR/Queens, NY) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 6-4, but were unable to bring in anymore runs after.

On the mound, Myles Scarry (FR/Levittown, NY) made his collegiate pitching debut. The freshman went 4.0 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits. He also tallied three strikeouts in the no decision. Carvell collected the loss in relief for the Panthers. 

Up next for Purchase is more Skyline Conference action, as the team is set to travel north to take on the Knights of Mount Saint Mary College. That doubleheader is scheduled for April 10th at noon. You can follow along here.