Baseball

Super Lions! No. 2 Molloy Baseball Punches Ticket to NCAA East Super Regional

Uniondale, N.Y. – For the third time in five years the second-seeded Molloy baseball team is heading to the NCAA East Super Regional after defeating sixth-seeded Felician, 3-2, Saturday afternoon at Mitchel Field. The Lions improve to 41-10, while the Golden Falcons conclude the year 35-23.
 
How it Happened
  • It was a pitcher's duel through the first three innings, as Molloy starter graduate student JC Kiss stranded runners in scoring position in the second and third inning to keep the game scoreless.
  • Molloy broke through with the game's first run in the fourth after senior Sean Serrano doubled to left field to plate senior Sean Welsh to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.
  • The lead was short lived as the Golden Falcons responded with a two-run bottom of the fourth following a pair of run scoring singles to jump ahead, 2-1.
  • The Lions wasted little time tying the game at two in the top of the fifth. After senior Jeremy Taggart walked and junior doubled to put runners on second and third, junior Mike Sweeney drove a sacrifice fly into left field to bring in the tying run.
  • The cardinal and white threatened in the sixth, loading the bases with two outs in the sixth, but Felician would induce an inning ending fly out to escape the jam.
  • The Molloy bullpen called up freshman Jason Torres out of the pen in the sixth and the rookie would be lights out, surrendering just one hit through three innings to keep the contest tied at two through eight innings.
  • In the top of the ninth, Sweeney led off with a single before being sacrificed to second base putting the go-ahead run-in scoring position. Following an intentional walk, junior Charlie Imhof stepped to the plate and drove a single into the left center to score Sweeney and give the Lions a 3-2 lead.
  • In the bottom of the ninth, the Golden Falcons put a one out base runner on following a single before a strike out to put two outs on the board. Felician would draw a pair of walks, loading the bases with the tying run at third and the winning run at second.
  • Coming out of the bullpen, sophomore Jayden Patel was called upon to get the game's final out. After a scary foul ball down the left field line that would of clinched the contest, Patel induced a game-ending ground out to clinch the victory, 3-2.
Top Performances
  • Imhof and Serrano collected two hits and one RBI each.
  • Welsh totaled two doubles and junior Jack Vallario collected two hits.
  • Sweeney drove in a run.
  • Kiss tossed five innings allowing two runs on six hits in a no-decision.
  • Torres picked up the victory after three innings of scoreless baseball out of the bullpen.
  • Patel closed out his eighth game of the season. 
Up Next
Molloy clinched a berth in the NCAA East Super Regional and will await the winner of top-seeded Bentley and fourth-seeded Wilmington. The Super Regional is set to begin Thursday, May 21. Check molloylions.com to stay up to date on the opponent and time of the contest.