Boca Raton, Fla. – The 22^nd-ranked Molloy baseball team went punch for punch with the Falcons of Bentley University, but would fall, 12-9, in 11 innings Friday afternoon at Lynn University. The Lions move to 6-3 on the campaign, while the Falcons improve to 8-3.

How it Happened

• Bentley struck in the top of the first with an RBI double to go ahead, 1-0.
• In the bottom of the frame after sophomore Joe Burriesci reached following an error, junior Sean Welsh connected on the first pitch her saw and deposited it over the right-center field fence to push the Lions in front, 2-1.
• Later in the inning, senior Nicholas Dagnello made it 3-1 after he scored a run following an RBI double. Molloy would cap the four run inning with a run crossing the plate off a fielder's choice to lead, 4-1, after one inning of baseball.
• In the top of the second, Bentley cut the deficit to two, 4-2, after an RBI single.
• The Falcons put together a four-run top of the fourth, with three runs scoring after a bases loaded triple and an RBI single capped the frame to put them ahead, 6-4.
• Molloy came within one, 6-5, after senior Patrick Sanchez singled to right field to score Dagnello in the bottom of the fifth.
• Bentley reclaimed its two-run lead in the top of the sixth after a run scoring single made it 7-5.
• In the bottom of the frame, the cardinal and white took advantage of a Bentley error to rally for three runs with two outs.
• Junior Sean Serrano scored following the error to bring Molloy within one, 7-6. Senior Aidan Larkin stepped up next and roped a double into left center field to score Welsh to tie the contest at seven, and sophomore James Sill capped the inning with a double to right field to reclaim the Lions lead, 8-7.
• The top of the seventh saw the Falcons execute a suicide squeeze to score a run to bring the contest back to all square at eight.
• Bentley retook the lead in the eighth, 9-8, with a single to right field.
• Trailing by one in the bottom of the ninth, Sanchez stepped to the plate with runners on first and second and drove in the tying run to make the score, 9-9, sending the game in extra innings.
• In the top of the 10^th, Bentley began the inning with a leadoff double and the runner reached third following a wild pitch with no outs on the board.
• Freshman Dylan Schriver would go on to retire the next three batters all via the strikeout, two of them following full counts to keep Bentley off the scoreboard.
• The Falcons would net three runs in the top of the 11^th off of three run scoring singles to break the tie, 12-9.
• In the bottom of the 11^th, the Lions would get a pair of runners on with two outs to bring the tying run to the plate, but Bentley would induce a game-ending pop out to secure the victory.

Top Performances

• Larkin tallied a career-high five hits, scored three runs, and knocked in one run.
• Sanchez totaled a career-high four hits and drove in two runs.
• Welsh connected on his second home run of the season while totaling two-RBI.
• Dagnello, Sill, and senior Thomas Lebrecht each collected a RBI.

Up Next
Molloy returns to the diamond Saturday, March 8 to play host Lynn University. First-pitch is set for 12:00 p.m.