Uniondale, N.Y. – For the fifth time in six seasons, the top-seeded Molloy baseball team reigns as East Coast Conference Champions, topping the second-seeded Mercy Mavericks, 13-1, Saturday morning at Mitchel Field. Senior
Sean Welsh was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, after hitting .462 driving in nine runs, totaling six hits, five runs scored, two stolen bases and one home run.
The Lions become the second program in East Coast Conference history to collect three consecutive crowns improving to 39-9 on the campaign to earn a sport in the NCAA Tournament.
How it Happened
- The Lions struck for two runs in the top of the first inning after sophomore Steve Mulqueen singled through the left side to plate juniors Mike Sweeney and Brian Sanchez to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.
- Following a scoreless second inning, Molloy rallied for a four-run top of the third on the back of run scoring singles from senior Sean Welsh and juniors Charlie Imhof and Jack Vallario to take a 6-0 lead.
- The cardinal and white put together their second four-run inning in the fourth to break the game open, 10-0. Loading the bases with no outs on the board to start the frame, Welsh came to the plate and cleared the bases with a double down the left field line before scoring following a double from Mulqueen.
- Mercy cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth with a run scoring following a ground out to set the score, 10-1.
- The top of the order accounted for three runs in the top of the seventh to extend the Lions lead, 13-1. Sweeney drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, Sanchez singled home a run, and Welsh knocked in the final run of the frame with a sacrifice fly.
- The Molloy staff would allow just one hit in the final three innings on their way to a 13-1 victory and the ECC crown.
Top Performances
- Welsh tied a career-high five RBI totaling two hits and two runs scored.
- Mulqueen tallied two hits and three RBI.
- Sanchez and Sweeney collected three hits, three runs, and one RBI each.
- Vallario knocked in two runs.
- On the mound, graduate student JC Kiss improved to 8-1 tossing seven innings allowing one run on six hits.
Up Next
The nationally ranked Lions earned a berth to the NCAA East Regional. The selection show will air Sunday, May 10 at 10:00 p.m. on NCAA.com. Check molloylions.com to stay up to date on the opponent, location, and time of the contest.
