Uniondale, N.Y. – The 16^th ranked Molloy baseball grinded out a 4-3 victory over the Mavericks of Mercy University Sunday afternoon at Mitchel Field. Molloy improves to 26-9 overall and 12-3 in East Coast Conference play, while the Mavericks move to 14-23 overall and 4-8 in league play.
 
How it Happened

• Two scoreless innings would go by before Mercy would crack the scoreboard in the third inning, with an RBI ground out to go ahead, 1-0.
• The Mavericks added to its lead, 2-0, with an RBI infield single in the top of the fourth inning.
• Molloy looked to cut into the deficit in the bottom of the fifth with runners on second and third, but could not cash in as a fly out ended the scoring threat.
• The cardinal and white broke through in the bottom of the sixth when senior Anthony Manisero led off the frame with a solo home run to shrink the deficit to one, 2-1.
• In the bottom of the seventh, junior JJ DeVito led off the frame with a walk and was sacrificed to second with one out. Senior Gavin McAlonie moved DeVito to third with a ground out, putting the tying run 90 feet away.
• On a 2-2 count, senior Matt Yip turned on an inside fastball and deposited it over the left field fence for a two-run home run to give Molloy the lead, 3-2.
• The road team wasted no time in the next half inning, tying the contest at three following an RBI double.
• Following the double, Mercy looked to take the lead with runners on second and third with one out, but junior JC Kiss induced a strikeout and snagged a line drive that was hit right back to him to get out of the jam and keep the game tied at three.
• In the bottom of the eighth, junior Patrick Sanchez singled with one out to put the go ahead run on the basepath. With his aggressiveness on the basepath, Sanchez was able to avoid a pickoff and steal second and moved to third following a throwing error, putting the go ahead run 90 feet from the plate.
• After working a 3-2 count, freshman Joe Burriesci lined a single into center field to put the Lions in front, 4-3.
• Sophomore Mike Knapp worked a perfect ninth inning to secure the series sweep, 4-3. 

Top Performances

• Yip belted his 11^th home run of the season and drove in two.
• Manisero collected his third home run of the campaign.
• Burriesci knocked in a run while collected one hit.
• On the mound, Kiss tossed eight innings allowing three runs, nine hits, and struck out five to improve to 6-1 on the campaign.
• Knapp collected his second save of the season.

Up Next
Molloy will step out of ECC play to host Caldwell in a non-conference matchup Tuesday, April 16. First pitch from Mitchel Field is set for 3:00 p.m.