Uniondale, N.Y. – Sophomore
James Sill tossed his first complete game shutout as a Lion Saturday afternoon as the Molloy baseball team split a pair of games with Ravens of Franklin Pierce (1-4 and 5-0) at Mitchel Field. The Lions improve to 8-6 on the campaign, while Franklin Pierce sits at 7-11.
Game One: Molloy 1, Franklin Pierce 4
- After a scoreless first inning, Franklin Pierce got on the board following a sacrifice fly.
- A pitching duel would ensue over the next three innings as Molloy starter redshirt sophomore Mike Knapp and Franklin Pierce starter Niklas Pavia went pitch for pitch, allowing just one hit combined from the third through the fifth.
- In the top of the sixth, the Ravens extended its lead, 2-0, in the top of the sixth after a solo home run snuck inside the left field foul pole.
- In the bottom of the frame, Molloy cut the deficit in half, 2-1, after graduate student Aidan Larkin singled to score junior Sean Serrano.
- Franklin Pierce would net two runs in the top of the seventh and hold Molloy without a hit for the remainder of the contest to secure the game one victory, 4-1.
Game Two: Molloy 5, Franklin Pierce 0
- Game two began with the Lions putting together two runs in the bottom of the first following a two-run single from sophomore Charlie Imhof.
- The bottom of the third saw the cardinal and white tack on two more runs to increase its lead, 4-0. The first run came following an error and sophomore Joe Burriesci drove in Imhof with a sacrifice fly.
- In the fourth with junior Sean Welsh on second, Larkin drove a ball into left center field, and it hopped over the fence for a ground-rule double to open the lead to five, 5-0.
- Sill took full advantage of the five-run lead and allowed just one hit in the final three innings to solidify the doubleheader split victory, 5-0.
- Sill tossed all seven innings, scattered four hits and struck out a season-high nine to improve to 3-0 on the season.
- Larkin collected three hits, scored a run, and drove in a run.
- Imhof tallied two hits and two RBI.
Up Next
The Lions return home Sunday, March 16 to finish its three-game set with Franklin Pierce. First-pitch is slated for 12:00 p.m.
