Staten Island, N.Y. – The Molloy baseball team was forced into extra innings for the third time this season in its conference opener Thursday afternoon, but would fall to the Dolphins of the College of Staten Island, 8-7, at CSI Baseball Complex. The Lions move to 9-8 overall and 0-1 in East Coast Conference play, while the Dolphins improve to 6-16 overall and 1-0 in league play.
 
How it Happened

• Staten Island wasted no time putting together a four-run bottom of the first inning, with runs coming in following a two-RBI triple, a run scoring double, and a sacrifice fly.
• The Lions answered right back in the top of the second, tallying three runs to get the deficit to one, 4-3.
• Senior Nicholas Dagnello got the scoring started with an RBI double, sophomore Joe Burriesci scored Dagnello with a single, and the inning was capped with a run scoring following an error.
• In the bottom of the fourth the Dolphins tacked on two runs after a two-run home run to extend its lead to three, 6-3.
• The cardinal and white's bats were silenced until the seventh. Junior Sean Welsh connected on a two-run home run to cut the deficit back to one, 6-5.
• Three batters later with runners on second and third, senior Patrick Sanchez found space up the middle for a single that scored two runs to push the Lions in front, 7-6.
• In the bottom of the seventh, the home team knotted the contest at seven after they scored following a bases loaded walk.
• Molloy threatened in the top of the ninth putting runners on first and third with one away, but Staten Island would get out of the jam inducing an inning ending double play that would lead to the game heading to extra innings.
• After the road was set down in order in the top of the tenth, the Dolphins clinched the victory, 8-7, in the bottom of the frame with the game-winning run crossing the plate following a walk. 

Top Performances

• Welsh connected for his fourth home run of the season and drove in two-runs.
• Sanchez collected three hits, drove in two runs, scored a run, and stole a base.
• Graduate student Aidan Larkin and junior Sean Serrano totaled two hits and one run each.

Up Next
Molloy continues its four-game series with the Dolphins Saturday, March 22 with a doubleheader at Mitchel Field. First pitch of the twin-bill is set for 12:00 p.m.