New Castle, Del. – The seventh-seeded earned a birth into the East Regional Final staving off elimination, picking up a pair of victories over the sixth-seeded Pace Setters, 7-1, at 9:00 a.m. and the second-seeded Wilmington Wildcats, 12-5. The Lions head into Monday with an overall record of 34-18.

Game One: Molloy 7, Pace 1

• The Setters got on the board in the first inning after Anthony Labita singled home a run.
• Molloy responded in the top of the second after junior Jack Coogan doubled to plate a run and redshirt senior Matthew Gonchar singled to score a run giving putting the Lions ahead, 2-1.
• The Lions continued to apply pressure in the fourth inning when sophomore Joe Burriesci snuck a single through the right side to score junior Sean Serrano to increase the lead, 3-1.
• Pace threatened in the bottom of the sixth, getting its lead off runner to second after a single and stolen base. Senior JC Kiss got out of the jam whiffing a batter and inducing two straight fly outs to hold the Setters off the board.
• The cardinal and white caught a break in the seventh inning after a run scoring following a dropped fly ball to extend the lead, 4-1.
• Molloy added three key insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Senior Patrick Sanchez doubled to score Gonchar and junior Jack Coogan plated senior Nicholas Dagnello and Sanchez to give the Lions a 7-1 lead where it would stand to clinch the victory.
• Kiss improved to 7-2 on the campaign after tossing seven innings allowing one run on six hits while striking out five.
• Coogan led the offense with three hits and three RBI.

Game Two: Molloy 12, Wilmington 5

• Wilmington wasted no time, jumping out to a 1-0 in the top of the first after a solo home run from Josearmando Diaz.
• The Wildcats added to its lead, 3-0, in the top of the third after a two-run home run off the bat of Brandon Grygo.
• Molloy broke through in the bottom of the fourth. Sanchez found the right-center gap to score two runs with a double and was followed by Coogan who scored a run with a sacrifice fly to bring the contest back to all square, 3-3.
• Wilmington punched right back reclaiming the lead, 4-3 in the top of the fifth after a run scoring double.
• The cardinal and white responded in the bottom of the frame. Gonchar singled and after a misplay in the outfield junior Sean Welsh crossed the plate and graduate student Aidan Larkin reached on a fielder's choice to bring home Gonchar to push Molloy in front, 5-4.
• The Lions exploded for five runs in the bottom of the sixth to open a 10-4 advantage. Gonchar singled up the middle to plate a run and Larkin and Sanchez doubled to score two runs each.
• Wilmington got a run back in the top of the seventh to come within five, 10-5, but that is as close as they would come as Molloy would plate a run in the seventh and the eighth and go on to secure the victory, 12-5.
• Redshirt sophomore Mike Knapp picked up his fifth win of the season after pitching seven innings allowing five runs and striking out six.
• Sanchez tallied a game-high four RBI on the back of two doubles.
• Larkin totaled three hits, three runs, and plated three.
• Coogan collected three hits and drove in one run.
• Graduate student Ziv Gar pitched the final two innings of scoreless baseball while striking out a pair.

Up Next
The Lions need two wins and will face third-seeded Felician University Monday, May 19 at 11:00 a.m. at Wilson Field hosted by Wilmington University. If necessary, game two between the two squads will begin soon after the conclusion of game one.