Uniondale, N.Y. – The Molloy baseball team and the Mavericks of Mercy put on an old-fashioned slugfest Saturday afternoon, combining to hit 11 home runs as they split the twin bill (10-9 and 6-8) at Mitchel Field. The Lions hold a 15-9 overall record and are 5-2 in East Coast Conference play as a result while the Mavericks go into Sunday 16-14 overall and 3-4 in league play.
 
Game One: Molloy 10, Mercy 9

• The Mavericks jumped on the board quickly with a two-run home run from David Bernard Jr. in the top of the first.
• Molloy responded in the bottom of the frame, when junior Sean Welsh swung at the first pitch and deposited it over the left field fence to come within one, 2-1.
• In the second, the long ball helped the Lions pull ahead, 3-2, after senior Nicholas Dagnello and junior Jeremy Taggart slugged a solo home run a piece.
• The scoring continued in the top of the third inning as the Mavericks reclaimed its two-run lead, 5-3, after a run scored following a wild pitch and a second two-run home run coming from Zach Ashline.
• The bottom of the third saw Aidan Larkin get in on the long ball party, when he hit it over the left center field fence to put the Lions back within one, 5-4.
• In the fourth the road team increased its lead back to two, 6-4, after a run scored on a wild pitch.
• In the bottom of the fourth, Welsh stepped into the box with two runners on a connected on his second home run of the day with a three-run shot to push the Lions back in front, 7-6.
• The cardinal and white continued to stay hot at the plate in the fifth when Taggart singled home Dagnello to increase the lead to two, 8-6.
• After both teams took a break from scoring in the sixth, the Mavericks knotted the game at eight in the seventh with a runs scoring on a single and a bases loaded walk.
• In the top of the ninth, Ashline connected with his second homer of the contest over the center field fence to put the Mavericks ahead, 9-8.
• In the bottom of the ninth after Molloy tallied two outs in two hitters, the Lions found a break after junior Jack Coogan reached on an error.
• Freshman Steve Mulqueen came in to pinch run for Coogan with Taggart coming to the plate. Taggart delivered with a double into left center and Mulqueen scored from first to bring the contest back to all square, 9-9.
• The cardinal and white would load the bases putting the game winning run 90 feet away with senior Thomas Lebrecht coming to the plate, but the Lions saw the winning run cross the plate following a wild pitch to come from behind and clinch the victory, 10-9.
• Taggart put together a perfect 5-for-5 day at the plate while driving in three runs and scoring twice.
• Welsh belted two home runs, knocked in four runs, and scored twice.
• Larkin hit a home run as part of a three-hit day, drove in one run, and scored once.
• Freshman Jayden Patel picked up his first win of his collegiate career, pitching 2.1 innings of relief allowing one run on one hit.

Game Two: Mercy 8, Molloy 6.

• Neither teams offense would cool off in game two, as the Mavericks scored in the top of the first off an RBI single to go ahead, 1-0.
• The Lions responded in the in the bottom of the frame, putting together a four-run inning to go ahead, 4-1. Lebrecht got the scoring started with an RBI single, Dagnello was hit by a pitch to score a run, and two runs came in following fielders' choices.
• In the second, Mercy designated hitter John Nisco connected for a three-run home run to bring the contest back to even, 4-4.
• When the Lions came to bat in the second, Larkin connected on his second home run of the day to retake the lead, 5-4.
• Lead didn't last very long, as the road team tied the contest at five following a RBI double In the top of the third.
• The bottom of the third saw Molloy retake its lead, 6-5, after a run scored following a fielders choice.
• The Mavericks fired right back in the top of the fourth, when Bernard Jr. slugged his second two-run home run to push back ahead, 7-6.
• Mercy would tack on an insurance run in the top of the fifth and hold the Lions off the scoreboard to secure the doubleheader split, 8-6.

Up Next
The Lions conclude its four-game series with the Mavericks Sunday, March 30 in Dobbs Ferry. First pitch is set for 12:30 p.m.