Uniondale, N.Y. - On the back of two runs scored in the ninth inning, the second-seeded baseball team advanced to the winner's bracket of the East Coast Conference Championship. The No. 22 Lions topped the third-seeded Knights of Queens, 4-3. Molloy improved to 37-12 on the season while QC dropped to 30-17.
How it Happened
- The Knights threatened in the top of the first inning, loaded the bases on three singles, but a strikeout and ground out from senior pitcher Charlie Cucchiara kept the Lions out of trouble.
- The cardinal and white loaded the bases in the bottom of the second inning with singles from freshmen Patrick Sanchez and Joe Burriesci and a walk to freshman Chris Giardino.
- Junior JJ DeVito was hit by a pitch for the 26th time this season to score the game's first run.
- A sacrifice fly from senior Aidan Larkin doubled the score.
- Queens would get on the board in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly from Phil Krpata, cutting the deficit in half.
- A lead-off single from Michael Vilardi set the stage for a two-run home run from Thomas Napolitano Jr. in the top of the ninth, giving the Knights a 3-2 lead heading into the top of the ninth.
- DeVito launched the ball over the left field fence in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game at three.
- Larkin walked in the following at bat before scoring on a walk-off double from senior Matt Yip to win the game for the Lions.
Top Performances
- Senior Gavin McAlonie led with two hits and a double.
- DeVito, Larkin, Yip, Sanchez, Burriesci, and senior Anthony Manisero all recorded a hit for the Lions.
- DeVito led with two RBI on the afternoon while Manisero swiped a bag.
- Cucchiara sat down six batters through a complete game effort for his 10th win of the season.
Up Next
The Lions await the winner of the matchup between St. Thomas Aquinas and D'Youville to determine who they will face in the winner's game tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. from Mitchel Field.
