Uniondale, N.Y. - For the second time in six days, the Molloy baseball team picked up a walk-off hit by pitch conference victory, topping the Mercy Mavericks, 3-2, in 10 innings at Mitchel Field. The Lions winning streak now sits at 12, improving to 21-7 overall and 13-2 in East Coast Conference play, while the Mavericks move to 19-14 overall and 10-5 in league play.
 
How it Happened

• Following a scoreless first inning, the Lions got on the board, 1-0, in the bottom of the second after junior Jack Vallario singled home senior Sean Serrano.
• Base runners were hard to come by for both squads through the fifth, as junior James Sill and Mercy starter Nevin Scaperotti traded scoreless innings through five frames.
• Mercy knotted the contest at one in the sixth after Zach Ashline connected for a solo home run.
• Molloy would put runners on first and second in the seventh and eighth inning, searching to break the seal, but Mercy would escape both innings. In the seventh, Scaperotti induced an inning ending fly out and in the eighth, Mercy reliever Dylan Ruland recorded a strike out and a pop out to keep the game tied at one heading into the ninth.
• Both squads would be held off the board in the ninth to send the contest to extra innings tied at one.
• With two outs in the top of the tenth, Mavericks shortstop Dylan Koch slugged a solo home run to left on the first pitch he saw to push the visitors in front, 2-1.
• In the bottom of the frame, the Lions loaded the bases in the first three batters that came to the plate. Junior Charlie Imhof walked, sophomore Steve Mulqueen singled, and Serrano walked to set the stage with no outs on the board.
• Following Serrano was senior Jack Coogan who worked a four-pitch walk to bring in the tying run, 2-2.
• Following a fielders choice that saw the game winning run thrown out at the plate, junior Jack Vallario came to the plate with the game on the line. After working a 1-1 count, the junior took the third pitch into the center of his back to score the winning run and clinch the victory, 3-2.

Top Performances

• Vallario brought in two runs.
• Coogan collected a hit and an RBI.
• Serrano reached base four times via four walks.
• On the mound, Sill pitched seven innings allowing one run on three hits while striking out a season-high 10 in a no-decision.
• Out of the bullpen, freshman Jason Torres tossed 2.2 innings surrendering one hit and punching out two.
• Sophomore Jayden Patel picked up the victory to move to 2-0 in 0.1 innings of work.

Up Next
The series between the Lions and Mavericks will shift to Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. for a doubleheader at Mercy Saturday, April 11. First pitch of the twin-bill is set for 12:00 p.m.