Uniondale, N.Y. – The Molloy baseball team used a five-run bottom of the sixth inning in game two to earn a split of Saturday's twin-bill against the Setters of Pace University (6-8 and 8-7). The Lions hold a 22-15 record following the split, while the Setters sit at 19-17.
With a two-run home run in game one, junior
Sean Welsh set the programs single season home run record launching his 15
th home run of the season. The record was set last season by alumni
Matt Yip.
Prior to the contest, the baseball program recognized the 10 members of the senior class that will be graduating in a Senior Day Ceremony. Those recognized were
Stephen Collica (MBA Management),
Nicholas Dagnello (Finance),
Matthew Fried (MBA Finance),
Ziv Gar (MBA Management),
Matthew Gonchar (MBA Management),
Ryan Hynes (MBA Finance),
Aidan Larkin (MBA Management),
Thomas Lebrecht (Marketing),
Patrick Sanchez (Entertainment and Sports Management), and
Jason Schwartz (Management).
Game One: Pace 8, Molloy 6
- Pace started the scoring in the second with two runs coming in off an RBI single and double.
- Molloy responded in the bottom of the frame, when its first hit of the contest went over the fence for a three-run home run from junior Jack Coogan to push them ahead, 3-2.
- The lead was short lives as the Setters knotted the contest at three in the third after a a run scoring single.
- The Lions used its aggressive baserunning and speed to retie the contest at four in the bottom of the third. With Welsh on second and Dagenllo on third, the pair executed a double steal, and Welsh came around to score off the throw down to second.
- The road team found themselves with a two-run lead, 6-4, after six and a half innings after Luke Rivara drove in a run in the fourth and seventh inning, respectively.
- In the bottom of the seventh on the first pitch seen from a new arm, Welsh connected and deposited a two-run homer over the left field fence to bring the contest back to all square, 6-6.
- Pace once again would not give up, reclaiming its two-run lead, 8-6, after a two-run home run from Mason Baronian in the top of the eighth.
- The Lions would be set down in order in the eighth and ninth clinching the victory for the road team.
Game Two: Molloy 8, Pace 7
- Game two started differently, as the Lions plated three runs in the second following a two-run single from sophomore Brian Sanchez and a single from Larkin.
- After being held scoreless in three innings, Pace cracked the scoreboard in the fourth off a single from Dominic Rivara to cut the deficit to two, 3-1.
- The road team continued to crawl back in the fifth with a run crossing the plate after a sacrifice fly to shrink the lead to one, 3-2.
- The sixth inning saw the Setters capitalize for a five-run inning, highlighted by a three-run home run to push them ahead, 7-3.
- In the bottom of the frame, the cardinal and white exploded for a five-run, six-hit inning to come all the way back, 8-7. The scoring came off the back of four straight hits beginning when Larkin singled to score pinch hitter sophomore Charlie Imhof, Welsh followed ripping a double into left to plate Brian Sanchez, Dagnello cleared the bases with a two-run double, and Coogan capped the inning with a double to plate Dagnello.
- Freshman Matt Reiter retired the side in order in the seventh to secure the come from behind victory, 8-7 and picked up his first career win.
Up Next
Molloy returns to diamond Tuesday, April 22 to wrap up its series with Pace in Pleasantville. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.
