UNIONDALE, N.Y. (April 1, 2017) - The Molloy baseball team swept a doubleheader against the University of Bridgeport Purple Knights Saturday afternoon at the Mitchel Athletic Complex. The Lions won game one, 8-1, and game two, 7-2. Molloy improved to 8-14 overall and 3-1 in East Coast Conference play with the victories.

GAME ONE: Molloy 8, Bridgeport 1

Senior Ronald Bauer (Hicksville, N.Y.) threw a complete game, gave up one run on nine hits, and struck out four batters leading Molloy to a victory in the first game.

Bridgeport (8-11,3-3 ECC) jumped out to an early lead. Daren Grabowski (Berlin, Conn.) hit a RBI single in the second inning to make it 1-0.

The Lions responded in the fourth inning. Junior Elijah Leerdam (Jamaica, N.Y.) knotted the score with a RBI single to center field, which scored senior Kevin Podell (Wantagh, N.Y.). With runners on second and third, senior Anthony Alberghina (Staten Island, N.Y.) hit an infield single to drive in junior Angelo Navetta (Staten Island, N.Y.) to put the maroon and white ahead 2-1. Senior Ryan Dillon (Medford, N.Y.) capped the rally with a RBI single to increase the lead to 3-1.

Molloy added insurance runs in the fifth inning. Navetta, who hit three home runs in the last two games, blasted a two-run home run to right field to make it 5-1.

Leerdam hit a two-run home run, and junior Luciano Morello (Hewlett, N.Y.) hit a solo shot in the eighth inning to bring the lead to 8-1.

GAME TWO: Molloy 7, Bridgeport 6

The Lions had to battle back in the second game after the Purple Knights plated three runs in the top half of the first.

Molloy responded in the bottom of the inning. Podell singled to center to score senior Brian Murphy (Elmont, N.Y.).  Later in the frame, Alberghina singled off of third base to score Navetta and cut the lead to 3-2.

UB added three more runs in the top of the second on RBIs from Tyler Gambardella (West Haven, Conn.), Dylan Steigerwald (Holbrook, N.Y.), and Cam Overbaugh (Catskill, N.Y.) to increase its advantage to 6-2.

The Lions rallied in the bottom of the second. Podell batted in his second run of the game to cut the lead to 6-3. Navetta then drove in a pair of runs to make it 6-5. Leerdam ended the rally with a RBI ground out, which scored Navetta, to tie the contest, 6-6.

The maroon and white took the lead in the fourth inning. Senior Michael Rahn (Sayville, N.Y.) scored on a throwing error from Steigerwald, which put the home team ahead 7-6.

Junior Kevin Hiss (Merrick, N.Y.) threw 5.2 innings of shutout ball in relief and struck out five to pick up his first win of the season.

Murphy stole two bases in the win.  

The Lions continue their series with the Purple Knights Sunday (Apr. 2) at the Mitchel Athletic Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.