Uniondale, N.Y. – The No. 22/26 ranked Molloy baseball team returned to Mitchel Field for its home opener Friday afternoon, but eventually fell, 7-4, to the Golden Falcons of Felician. The Lions move to 3-2 on the campaign, while the Golden Falcons improve to 4-4.
 
How it Happened

• After a scoreless first inning, Felician put together a four-run top of the second on the back of back-to-back two-run singles to go in front 4-0.
• The Golden Falcons added to its lead in the third with a run scoring following a passed ball to increase its lead, 5-0.
• In the bottom of the fifth, the Lions capitalized after junior Sean Serrano reached on an error. Sophomore Joe Burriesci stepped to the plate and roped a run scoring triple over the center fielders head to get the Lions on the board, 5-1.
• Senior Patrick Sanchez scored Burriesci with an infield single to third to bring Molloy within three, 5-2.
• The cardinal and white continued to claw back in the sixth. Sophomore Charlie Imhof came off the bench and scored junior Sean Welsh following an infield single to shrink the deficit to two, 5-3.
• The home team looked to tie the contest with runners on second and third with one out still in the sixth, but a pair of strikeouts would halt the rally and keep the score at 5-3.
• The road team tacked on a run each in the seventh and eight following an RBI double and a solo home run to reestablish its four-run advantage, 7-3.
• In the bottom of the eighth, Welsh kicked off the inning with a ground-rule double and came around to score following a single from sophomore James Sill to bring the Lions back within three, 7-4.
• Molloy would get the tying run to the plate in the frame with runners on first and second, but Felician would once again close the door ending the inning with a ground out in what would be the final rally for the Lions.
• The Golden Falcons completed the victory to take game one of the series, 7-4 

Top Performances

• Burriesci, Sanchez, and Sill totaled a hit and an RBI each.
• Welsh collected two runs scored, one hit, and one stolen base.
• Imhof drove in his first RBI of the season.
• Senior JC Kiss got the start on the mound pitching three innings while allowing four hits, four earned runs, and one strikeout.
• Out of the bullpen, graduate student Matthew Fried went five innings, surrendering four hits, two runs, and six strikeouts.
• Freshman Jaden Patel made his Mitchel Field debut pitching one perfect inning and collecting a strikeout.

Up Next
Molloy will head to Rutherford, New Jersey Saturday, March 1 to take on the Golden Falcons in a double-header to finish off the series. First-pitch of the twin-bill is set for 1:00 p.m.