WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Mar. 11, 2017) – The rally fell just short for Molloy baseball in their 4-3 loss to Southern Connecticut State University at Palm Beach Atlantic University this afternoon. The Lions registered seven hits, including a two-run single from junior
Luciano Morello (Wantagh, N.Y.) while senior pitcher
Ronald Bauer (Hicksville, N.Y.) went seven innings, striking out three.
The Owls threatened to score early, as senior Greg Zullo (Branford, Conn.) singled to advance sophomore Tyler Criscuolo (Branford, Conn.) to third. Bauer forced senior Kyle Hart (North Branford, Conn.) to ground out to second baseman
Michael Rahn (Sayville, N.Y.) to end the inning and keep Southern off the board.
The teams continued to duke it out defensively until the top of the sixth inning when Hart hit an RBI single to put the Owls on the board. SCSU would increase the lead to 4-0 in the top of the seventh, as junior Jim Palmer (Milford, Conn.) scored on a wild pitch before Hart drove in two more runs with another single.
The Lions came to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning still trailing by four runs. Freshman
Jake Saltzman (Old Bethpage, N.Y.) led the inning off with a single, and advanced to third on a walk to senior
Anthony Alberghina (Staten Island, N.Y.) and Rahn reaching on a fielder's choice. The freshman was brought home as senior
Kevin Podell (Wantagh, N.Y.) singled in the first run for Molloy. Morello came to bat with the bases loaded, singling to score Podell and Rahn to bring the maroon and white within one. The rally, however, was not to be, as senior
Ryan Dillon (Medford, N.Y.) grounded out to end the inning and the contest.
Bauer fell to 0-2 on the season with the loss. Junior
Shawn Klotsche (Wantagh, N.Y.) and sophomore
Lucas Burton (Glendale, N.Y.) each pitched one inning, combining for three strikeouts through seven batters faced. Junior Griffin Bremer (Higganum, Conn.) picked up the win, improving to 1-1 on the season.
The Lions (2-9) return to action tomorrow as they face American International College at 12:00 p.m. on the campus of Lynn University.
