Uniondale, N.Y. - Sophomore
Steve Mulqueen's walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the 12th sent the fans home happy, as the Molloy baseball team defeated the Dolphins of Staten Island, 7-5, Thursday afternoon at Mitchel Field. The Lions improve to 34-8 overall and 24-3 in East Coast Conference play, while the Dolphins move to 13-27 overall and 8-19 in league play.
How it Happened
- The Dolphins jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first with runs coming in following a solo home run and a single to right field.
- The lead was short lived as the Lions knotted the contest at two in the bottom of the frame. After senior Sean Welsh doubled with two outs, sophomore Steve Mulqueen doubled to right field to plate Welsh before scoring following a single from junior Charlie Imhof.
- Molloy jumped ahead, 3-2, in the bottom of the third after Imhof plated Welsh with a sacrifice fly to right field.
- Staten Island reclaimed the lead, 4-3, in the top of the fifth after a run crossed the plate following a fielder's choice before a second run scored after a wild pitch.
- The road team added to their lead, 5-3, in the sixth with a run coming in after a fielder's choice.
- The cardinal and white had their offense stifled, collecting just two hits until between the third and seventh innings.
- In the bottom of the eighth, Mulqueen unloaded and connected for a solo home run to center field to cut the deficit back to one, 5-4.
- In the bottom of the ninth with one out, junior Mike Sweeney snuck a chopper inside the left field line for a double before swiping third base to put himself 90-feet away from tying the game.
- Up next, junior Brian Sanchez collected an infield single in between the pitcher and first basemen to plate Sweeney and bring the contest back to all square, 5-5.
- Molloy would have the winning run on third later in the inning with two outs, but Staten Island induced an inning ending fly out to send the game into extra innings.
- After a scoreless 10th inning, the Dolphins put the go-ahead run on third with two outs in the 11th, but sophomore Dylan Schriver got out of the jam ending the frame with a line out.
- In the 12th, Welsh led off with a single up the middle and stole second to put himself into scoring position. After working a 2-2 count, Mulqueen connected and launched the game winning home run over the center field fence to clinch the victory, 7-5.
Top Performances
- Mulqueen belted two home runs and drove in four as part of a four-hit day while scoring three runs.
- Welsh collected four hits and three runs scored.
- Imhof drove in two runs.
- On the mound, junior James Sill got the start tossing 4.2 innings allowing four runs on seven hits in a no-decision.
- Freshman Jason Torres tallied 2.1 innings out of the bullpen surrendering two hits and one run.
- Sophomore Jayden Patel totaled three scoreless innings out of the pen, allowing three hits.
- Schriver picked up the victory to improve to 3-0, allowing one hit in two innings of work.
Up Next
Molloy and Staten Island continue their series Friday, May 1 with a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m. The twin-bill will take place at Mitchel Field with the Lions serving as the road team for both contests.
