Uniondale, N.Y. - The No. 12 baseball team topped the University of Bridgeport Purple Knights this afternoon, 5-3, from Mitchel Field. Molloy improved to 14-5 on the season in the win while UB fell to 2-14.

How it Happened

• After three scoreless innings, the Purple Knights were first on the scoreboard. Jeremy Rodrigues led off the inning with a walk before a shot over the right field fence from Christian Oritz lifted the visitors to a 2-0 lead. 
• Redshirt sophomore Sean Mileti struck out the next three batters to limit the damage to two runs.
• Junior JJ Devito started the home half of the fourth with a walk, moving to second following a fielding error. A single from senior Aidan Larkin loaded the bases for senior Matt Yip to put up a sacrifice fly scoring DeVito. Molloy tied the contest after the shortstop mis-fielded the cut-off throw to plate freshman Joe Burriesci. 
• A solo home run from Angel Irby made it 3-2 Purple Knights in the sixth inning, but once again small ball from the Lions knotted the score in the home half of the inning.
• Burriesci led off the inning with an outfield single before Larkin hit a double. The freshman scored on a wild pitch to set the score at 3-3 after six innings of play. 
• Walks to DeVito, Larkin and junior Nicholas Dagnello paired with a sacrifice bunt from Burriesci broke the stalemate in the eighth inning, with Molloy taking a 4-3 lead. Junior Patrick Sanchez rounded out the scoring with a fielder's choice to score Larkin and make it 5-3. 

Top Performances

• Larkin led with a 2-for-3 afternoon at the plate, adding a double, walk, and stolen base. 
• Yip, Dagnello, and Sanchez each drove in a run. 
• Burriesci went 1-for-2 with a single and a walk while scoring two runs. 
• DeVito drew two walks and scored two runs.
• Graduate student Matthew Fried struck out a career-high eight batters in three hit-less innings in the start. 
• Mileti and freshman Thomas Charlwood each struck out three batters, matching a career-high for the rookie, in a combined four innings of work.
• Freshman Jack Schulz threw the final two innings and earned his first career win in the decision, striking out two batters.

Up Next
The Lions kick off East Coast Conference play this weekend with a four-game home series against D'Youville beginning Friday (Mar. 22) at 3:00 p.m.