Uniondale, N.Y. – The top-seeded Molloy baseball team took down the second-seeded Mercy Mavericks, 8-2, to advance to the ECC Final Friday afternoon at Mitchel Field. The Lions advance to the ECC Final for the sixth consecutive season holding a 38-9 record while the Mavericks move to 27-23.
How it Happened
- Mercy wasted no time in the top of the first inning starting the frame with a lead off home run from Dylan Koch to take a 1-0 lead.
- Molloy responded just as quicky with a lead off solo home run from junior Mike Sweeney to knot the contest at one in the bottom of the first.
- Following a scoreless second inning, junior Joe Burriesci and Sweeney led off the bottom of the third reaching base, setting the stage with first and second with no outs.
- After Mercy recorded the innings first out, senior Sean Welsh stepped to the plate and connected for a three-run home run on the first pitch he saw to give the Lions a 4-1 lead.
- The Mavericks cut the deficit to two, 4-2, in the top of the fourth after a run scoring double. Mercy would look to add more runs with a runner at second, but redshirt junior Mike Knapp ending the inning with a fly out and a strike out.
- The bottom of the frame saw the cardinal and white get the run back after Sweeney scored following a balk to reclaim the three-run lead, 5-2.
- Molloy added to their lead, 7-2, in the fifth after junior Steve Mulqueen tripled home a run before scoring following a sacrifice fly from junior Charlie Imhof.
- The Lions took advantage of a two base error from the Mavericks in the sixth, setting up a run scoring single from junior Brian Sanchez to increase the lead, 8-2.
- The eighth inning saw the Mavericks begin the frame with a pair of singles looking to spark a rally, but Knapp once again would bear down striking out three straight to escape the inning.
- The Mavericks would go down in order in the ninth, clinching the 8-2 victory for the Lions.
Top Performances
- Welsh hit his 13th home run of the campaign as part of a two hit, three-RBI day.
- Sweeney slugged his second home run of the season while scoring a career-high four times.
- Imhof, Mulqueen, and Sanchez drove in a run each.
- Knapp improved to 8-1 on the season, tossing a season-high eight innings allowing two runs and striking out 10 for the third time this season.
Up Next
The Lions move onto the ECC Championship Final Saturday, May 9 where they await the winner of second-seeded Mercy and fourth-seeded D'Youville. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
