Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 MISENHEIMER, N.C. (Feb. 20, 2016) - The Molloy College baseball team opened its 2016 campaign on Saturday (Feb. 20) with a doubleheader against Pfeiffer University at Joe Ferebee Field in Misenheimer, N.C. Following a 2-1 loss in the first game, the Lions broke out the offense and claimed a 7-2 triumph over the Falcons to salvage a split in the double-dip. The Lions are 1-1 to start the year, while Pfeiffer currently claims a 2-7 record overall.
Game One: Pfeiffer 2, Molloy 1Molloy's offense slogged through its opening contest of the spring, wasting an excellent pitching performance from junior pitcher
Ronald Bauer (Hicksville, N.Y.) in a 2-1 loss. Neither team managed to plate a run until the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Falcons struck off the bat of sophomore outfielder Jordan Eckerd (Catfish, N.C.). Bauer had gotten the first two outs of the frame, but Pfeiffer put runners on with a single and a walk for Eckerd to slap a single through the left side of the infield and score Derek Perry (Belmont, N.C.) from second. The Falcons kept the lead until the top of the eighth inning when Molloy would score the tying run. Senior
Nicholas Gonchar (Staten Island, N.Y.) started the frame off with a single, and he was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Anthony Galanoudis (Farmingdale, N.Y.). Senior
Deilyn Guzman (East Hampton, N.Y.) then roped a two-out double to left-center, scoring pinch runner
Ryan Hensley (Franklin Square, N.Y.) from second to level the score at one. In the bottom of the eighth, freshman pitcher
Lucas Burton (Glendale, N.Y.) was rudely welcomed to collegiate baseball as Eckerd launched a long-ball to left field. The home run would provide the game-winning run in the contest.
Bauer's line included seven strong innings of work, as the junior surrendered a run on five hits and struck out five Falcons batters. Burton was tagged with the loss, yielding hits to both batters he faced including the Eckerd home run. Freshman
Timothy Panetta (Broad Channel, N.Y.) would replace Burton and get three outs while striking out one in his Molloy debut. The Lions had six hits, with Guzman leading the way with two, and left five runners on base. Perry had a three-hit game for Pfeiffer, while Eckerd and Zach Scudder (Belews Creek, N.C.) each collected two hits in the game.
Game Two: Molloy 7, Pfeiffer 2Game two provided a much different story as the Lions jumped on starting pitcher Zach Huneycutt (Locust, N.C.) in the first of a seven-inning contest. Sophomore
Angelo Navetta (Staten Island, N.Y.) raked a two-out single to right-center field, bringing Guzman home from second base with the game's first run. Molloy tacked on an insurance run in the top of the third as Gonchar stroked a double into left-center field to bring Navetta home and chase Huneycutt from the game. The maroon and white would break the game wide open in the very next inning on a four-run fourth inning to grab a 6-0 lead. Junior
Anthony Alberghina (Staten Island, N.Y.) got the scoring started with an RBI single up the middle, scoring
Jack McCarty (Huntington, N.Y.) with the Lions' third run of the game. Molloy then loaded the bases on a pair of walks when sophomore
Christian Todd (Staten Island, N.Y.) smacked a bases-clearing triple to right field, making the Lions' advantage an insurmountable six runs.
That would be all the offense necessary for red-shirt junior
Bobby Kelly (Mineola, N.Y.), as the southpaw pitched a workmanlike six innings while giving up two runs on five hits to pick up the win. Right-hander
Sean Gordon (Levittown, N.Y.) worked a relatively seamless seventh inning to close out the victory. The Lions banged out 14 hits, with Navetta and
Michael Rahn (Sayville, N.Y.) each collecting three base-knocks in the win. Huneycutt took the loss for Pfeiffer, while middle reliever Craig Jacobelli (Greensboro, N.C.) was charged with four runs in an inning and a third of work.
The Lions will conclude a three-game set on Sunday (Feb. 21) with a 1 p.m. showcase versus Pfeiffer in Misenheimer, N.C.
