Uniondale, N.Y. - Scoring runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth inning the Molloy baseball team extended their winning streak to 17 Friday afternoon, topping the D'Youville Saints, 6-4, at Mitchel Field. Following the victory, the Lions improve to 26-7 overall and 17-2 in East Coast Conference play while the Saints move to 14-23 overall and 9-10 in league play.
 
How it Happened

• Molloy got right to work in the bottom of the first. After junior Mike Sweeney led off with a single and stole second, junior Sean Welsh blasted a home run on the first pitch he saw to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.
• The lead was short lived as the Saints responded with a three-run top of the second, with runs scoring following a solo home run, sacrifice fly, and rbi single to take a 3-2 lead. 
• After the Lions left runners on first and second in the second and third inning, they tied the contest at three in the bottom of the fourth after junior Jack Vallario connected for a solo home run to left field.
• In the top of the sixth after the D'Youville lead off man reached via an error, the Saints reclaimed the lead, 4-3, following an RBI single.
• The cardinal and white responded in the bottom of the frame after Vallario drove in senior Jeremy Taggart with a single to knot the contest at four.
• The home team took the lead back in the bottom of the seventh, 5-4,  after sophomore Steve Mulqueen scored following a wild pitch.
• The road team threatened to tie the game in the eighth, kicking off the frame with a lead off double. After sophomore Jayden Patel issued a walk after being called out of the bullpen, D'Youville had runners on first and second with one out on the board. 
• Patel was able to escape the jam, inducing an inning ending 6-4-3 double play to keep the Saints off the board.
• In the bottom of the eighth, Molloy put the first two runners on after a pair of singles from Vallario and Sweeney. Next to the plate was junior Brian Sanchez who laid down a perfect bunt that got behind the defense and brought Vallario home to add an important insurance run, 6-4.
• Later in the frame, the Lions would load the bases with one away, but D'Youville reliever Sean Glinski was able to scurry out of the inning, ending the half inning with a strikeout and fly out to limit the damage.
• Patel polished off his save in the ninth, setting the Saints down in order to secure the 6-4 triumph.

Top Performances

• Vallario hit his third home run of the season as part of a three-hit day, drove in two, and scored twice.
• Welsh connected for his ninth home run of the campaign and drove in two.
• Sweeney collected a three-hit afternoon.
• On the mound, junior James Sill got the start allowing three earned runs on five hits in six innings of work while striking out seven in the no-decision.
• Sophomore Artie Green picked up his first win of his career, tossing 1.1 innings out of the bullpen allowing one hit and striking out one.
• Patel notched his sixth save of the year, pitching 1.2 scoreless innings without surrendering a hit.

 
Up Next
Molloy continues their series against D'Youville Saturday, April 18 with a doubleheader at Mitchel Field. First pitch of the twin bill is set for 12:00 p.m.