Myrtle Beach, S.C. – The 15^th-rankedMolloy baseball team picked up an 8-6 victory over the Purple Knights of the University of Bridgeport Friday afternoon on Griffith Field at the Ripken Experience. The Lions improve to 4-0 on the season, while the Purple Knights move to 0-1.
 
How it Happened

• The Lions struck quickly in the bottom of the first. Senior Gavin McAlonie drove in an RBI double and junior Nicholas Dagnello recorded a sacrifice fly to put Molloy ahead, 2-0.
• Two more runs crossed the plate in the second. Senior Aidan Larkin knocked in a pair with a double to extend the Molloy lead to 4-0.
• Aggressiveness on the basepath led to Lions' fifth run when senior Anthony Manisero swiped third base and forced an errant throw to send him to the plate giving the cardinal and white a 5-0 advantage.
• Bridgeport was able to crack the scoreboard in the fourth inning with an RBI triple to bring them within four, 5-1.
• The Purple Knights tallied a pair of solo home runs in the top of the sixth inning to cut the deficit in half, 5-3.
• The cardinal and white answered in the bottom of the frame. Dangnello scored sophomore Sean Serrano with an infield single to increase the lead, 6-3.
• Two runs crossed the plate for Bridgeport in the top of the seventh inning to shrink the Lions lead to one, 6-5.
• In the bottom of the seventh, Larkin stepped to the plate and ripped a two-RBI single to left scoring senior Matt Yip and Serrano to reestablish the three-run lead, 8-5.
• The Purple Knights tallied a run in the bottom of the eight to come within two, 8-6.
• In the ninth, Bridgeport brought the go ahead run to the plate with two runners on and two outs, but sophomore Sean Welsh got a pair of fly outs to secure the victory, 8-6.

Top Performances

• Larkin collected four RBI, two hits, and one run scored.
• Serrano tallied two hits, three runs scored.
• Senior Anthony Manisero and junior Patrick Sanchez totaled two hits each.
• On the mound, graduate student Charlie Cucchiara tossed five innings allowing one run, on two hits, and struck out four to improve to 2-0 on the campaign.
• Welsh threw the final two innings, not allowing a run, and struck out two to pick up his first save of his collegiate career.

Up Next
The Lions will play a double-header Chestnut Hill Saturday, February 24. The first game of the twin bill is set to begin at 10:00 a.m.