ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Apr. 14, 2016) - With just four weekends left in the East Coast Conference season, the Molloy College baseball team has a decent chance of capturing one of the top-4 positions in next month's East Coast Conference Tournament. But in a seven-team league, the margin for error is non-existent and the next opponent is Queens College---a team coming off of a split in its last ECC series with three-time defending champion Saint Thomas Aquinas. The action begins Friday (Apr. 15) at Mitchel Field and extends through Sunday (Apr. 17).
About the Lions- The Lions are 20-9 overall and 5-3 in conference play. The maroon and white are 11-2 in games played at Mitchel Field and 6-3 in games played as traditional road contests.
- Molloy's top three starters have been impressive this season: juniors
Ronald Bauer (Hicksville, N.Y.) and
Bobby Kelly (Mineola, N.Y.) are both 5-0 with earned-run averages under 1.50 and opposing teams are batting under .160 against both starters. Meanwhile, sophomore
Anthony Catinella (Middle Village, N.Y.) has 45 strikeouts (27 of which have come in his last three starts).
- Sophomore
Angelo Navetta (Staten Island, N.Y.) is having a dream season at the plate; Navetta is hitting .398 with three home runs and 18 RBIs and leads the squad with a .537 slugging percentage and a .450 on-base percentage.
- As a team, the Lions are batting .305 and have stolen 57 bases so far this season. Senior
Deilyn Guzman (East Hampton, N.Y.) and junior
Brian Murphy (Elmont, N.Y.) are responsible for 34 of those bags being swiped so far this spring.
Concerning the KnightsRecord: 13-16
Conference Record: 5-7
2 game winning streak
7-3 on the road while only 4-10 at home
Players to watch for
Junior shortstop Kevin Kolesar (New City, N.Y.): 42 hits, 20 runs scored, 22 RBI, .393 batting average, 20 stolen bases.
Sophomore outfielder Karl Klesin (Glendale, N.Y.): 31 hits, 15 runs scored, 1 HR, 20 RBI, BA: .341, 9 stolen bases.
Junior right-handed pitcher Joseph Broderick (West Islip, N.Y.): 48.2 innings pitched this season, has struck out 35 batters while allowing 42 hits, ERA is 2.96 with a 2-3 record and one complete game.
Senior right-handed pitcher Brandon Burrell (Inwood, N.Y.): 40.1 innings pitched, 32 strikeouts while allowing 52 hits, ERA is 5.13 with a 2-0 record.
