Uniondale, N.Y. - The Molloy baseball team used a two-run bottom of the eighth to clinch a 4-3 victory over the Mercy Mavericks Sunday afternoon at Mitchel Field. The Lions extend their winning streak to 15, improving to 24-7 overall and 16-2 in East Coast Conference play while the Mavericks move to 19-17 overall and 10-8 in league play.
 
How it Happened

• After a scoreless first inning, Mercy loaded the bases in the top of the second with one out on the board. Following a mound visit, junior Thomas Charlwood escaped the jam inducing a fielder's choice where he threw a runner out at the plate and a ground out to keep the Mavericks off the board.
• The Lions cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the frame. After sophomore Steve Mulqueen led off the inning with a double, junior Anthony Marsillo drove him in with a single into center field to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
• The lead was short lived, as the road team knotted the contest at one after John Nisco drove in a run with a single in the top of the third.
• The Mavericks again threatened in the top of the fourth, putting the first two runners on with no outs. Charlwood once again would not let it phase him, scurrying out of the jam with a 6-3 double play and a ground out to keep the contest tied.
• The cardinal and white took the lead, 2-1, in the bottom of the fifth after junior Mike Sweeney plated Marsillo with a sacrifice fly.
• The road team answered right away in the sixth, bringing the contest back to all square at two after a run scored following a ground out.
• In the seventh, Mercy took advantage of a Molloy error to take its first lead of the afternoon, 3-2.
• The bottom of the eighth began with a pair of singles from Sweeney and junior Brian Sanchez before senior Sean Welsh plated Sweeney with a single to tie the contest at three.
• A few batters later, the Lions loaded the bases with a walk putting the go-ahead run 90 feet away. Sophomore Matt Nowlan stepped to the plate and converted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Welsh to reclaim the Molloy lead, 4-3.
• In the top of the ninth following back-to-back strikeouts to put two outs on the board, the road team converted consecutive singles to put runners on first and third. The Mavericks pinch hit Matthew Hesselbirg in search to tie the contest, but sophomore Jayden Patel shut the door, ending the contest with a strikeout to secure the victory.

Top Performances

• Marsillo and Welsh tallied two hits, one run, and one RBI each.
• Sweeney and Nowlan collected a hit and drove in a run.
• Charlwood tossed five innings allowing one run on three hits in a no-decision.
• Patel improved to 3-0 on the campaign, pitching two innings allowing two hits while striking out four.

Up Next
Molloy steps out of conference play Wednesday, April 15 as they'll travel to play Dominican in Orangeburg, N.Y. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.