Uniondale, N.Y. – Graduate student Charlie Cucchiara was masterful Friday afternoon, allowing one hit through seven innings and struck out 11 to lead the 15^th ranked Molloy baseball team past the Dolphins of the College of Staten Island, 12-3, at Mitchel Field. The Lions improve to 31-10 overall and 13-4 in East Coast Conference play, while the Dolphins move to 12-24 overall and 7-14 in league play.
 
How it Happened

• Molloy kicked off the scoring with an RBI single from senior Matt Yip in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead.
• Cucchiara set the first 12 Dolphins down that greeted him, five via the strikeout through four innings.
• In the bottom of the fourth, the Lions had another run cross the plate following a double play to increase its lead, 2-0.
• Cucchiara would give up his first base runner of the contest via a single to begin the top of the fifth, but would retire the next three batters on strikeouts.
• The Lions broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth, sending 14 hitters to the plate and scoring 10 runs to extend its lead, 12-0.
• The cardinal and white loaded the bases to kick off the inning with no one out. Junior Nicholas Dagnello plated the innings first run with a run scoring walk and junior Patrick Sanchez followed with a walk of his own to plate a run.
• Freshman Joe Burriesci cleared the bases with a double down the left field to score three and to start a run of four straight run scoring doubles. Senior Chris Giardino, junior JJ DeVito, and senior Aidan Larkin each doubled down the left field line to score one another and put the game out of reach.
• Staten Island would plate three runs in the top of the ninth, but the contest would end following a six-four-three double play to secure the Lions' victory, 12-3.

Top Performances

• Burriesci paced the team with three hits and three RBI.
• Yip totaled three hits and drove in one run.
• DeVito, Larkin, and Giardino plated a run each.
• Cucchiara improved to 9-0 on the campaign after tossing seven shutout innings.

Up Next
Molloy continues its series with the Dolphins Saturday, April 27 as they'll play two in Staten Island. First pitch of the twin bill is set for 12:00 p.m.