Morehead City, N.C. – The Molloy baseball team began the 2024 campaign with a 6-3 victory against the Golden Falcons of Felician University, Friday afternoon at Big Rock Stadium. The Lions improved to 1-0, while the Golden Falcons move to 1-4.
How it Happened
- Felician opened the contest with an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
- In the bottom of the frame, the Lions executed a double steal. Senior Gavin McAlonie swiped second, that allowed junior JJ DeVito to break for the plate and score from third to knot the contest at one.
- With runners on second and third in the bottom of the third, senior Anthony Manisero went the other way and drove in a pair of runners to give Molloy the lead, 3-1.
- The Golden Falcons came within one, 3-2, following an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth.
- The Lions went onto score one run in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. Senior Chris Giardino drove a sacrifice fly in the fifth, senior Aidan Larkin scored DeVito on a RBI double in the sixth, and sophomore Jack Coogan collected an RBI triple to give Molloy a four-run advantage, 6-2.
- Felician would cut the deficit to three, 6-3, in the eighth, but Lions would not allow another run to cross the plate and would go on to win, 6-3.
Top Performances
- Senior Charlie Cucchiara tossed five innings allowing two runs, one hit, and struck out seven to pick up his first win of the season.
- Junior JC Kiss threw the final four innings, allowing one run on three hits while whiffing four batters to pick up the save.
- Manisero drove in two runs.
- Giardino, Coogan, and Larkin tallied one RBI apiece.
- Junior Nicholas Dagnello collected two hits and score twice.
Up Next
The Lions will return to the diamond Saturday (Feb. 17) to take on sixth-ranked Millersville at Big Rock Stadium in day two of the Morehead City Challenge. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m.
