Boca Raton, Fla. – The 13^th-ranked Molloy baseball team used a seven run sixth inning to propel them past the Fighting Knights of Lynn University, 12-4, Saturday morning. The Lions improve to 10-2 on the season, while the Fighting Knights move to 12-9.

How it Happened

• The contest kicked off as a pitchers' duel, as senior Ryan Hynes and Lynn starter Matt Tiberia went pitch for pitch in the opening three innings.
• Lynn had a chance to crack the scoreboard in the third with two runners on and two outs, but sophomore Sean Serrano made a leaping catch near the right field wall to hold Lynn off the scoreboard.
• In the top of the fourth, the Lions manufactured its first run of the contest. Sophomore Sean Welsh led off the inning with a single and went on to steal two bases to put him on third base with one away. Senior Matt Yip knocked Welsh home with an RBI ground out to put Molloy in front, 1-0.
• The Fighting Knights continue to threaten in the fifth inning with the tying run 90 feet away, but Hynes bared down and converted an inning ending groundout to keep the contest at 1-0.
• The contest was broken open in the Lions' seven-run rally in the sixth to take a 8-0 lead. Five runs crossed the plate following RBI singles from senior Aidan Larkin, Yip, and junior Patrick Sanchez and a two-run single from senior Chris Giardino.
• The home team was able to crack the scoreboard in the bottom of the frame to come within seven, 8-1.
• The cardinal and white answered with two more runs in the seventh propelled by a run scoring single from Larkin and a RBI double from junior Nicholas Dagnello to extend the lead, 10-1.
• The Fighting Knights continued to battle, adding two runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit back to seven, 10-3.
• The bats stayed hot in the eighth for Molloy tacking on two more runs on the back of Larkin's third RBI single and an RBI single by sophomore Grayson Saltzer to regain its nine-run advantage, 12-3.
• After scoring a run in the bottom of the eighth, Lynn loaded the bases with two away threatening to get right back into the game with a big swing, but freshman Thomas Charlwood induced an inning ending pop out to end the threat and close out the victory, 12-4.

Top Performances

• Larkin paced the squad collecting three hits, three RBI, and scoring three runs.
• Giardino totaled two hits, two RBI, and a run scored.
• Sanchez added two hits and an RBI, junior JJ DeVito totaled two hits and two runs scored, and Yip drove in a pair.
• Welsh scored two runs and stole four bases, tying a single-game record.
• On the mound, Hynes threw five scoreless innings allowing five hits and striking out seven to improve to 2-0 on the season.
• Charlwood made his first collegiate appearance on the hill, tossing the final two innings allowing one run, on one hit, and striking out one.

Up Next
Molloy returns to regional play Sunday (Mar. 10) as they'll take on Southern Connecticut State at Lynn University at 2:30 p.m.