Baseball Unable to Get Past Molloy, 6-4

Skyhawks get early lead, but fall 6-4

MIAMI SHORES, FLORIDA. (March 9, 2018) – The Stonehill College baseball team fell to Molloy College, as the Lions outhit the Skyhawks by one, 8-7, taking the victory, 6-4, at Feinbloom Field Friday afternoon.

Four Skyhawks tallied RBI, including Matthew Rocco (Newington, Connecticut/Newington), Harrison Sabo (Wilton, Connecticut/Wilton), William Kelleher (Mansfield, Massachusetts/Mansfield), and Thomas Quinn (Wilbraham, Massachusetts/Wilbraham Monson). Sabo led Stonehill offensively, batting 3-for-5 in the game, Quinn and John Orzechowski (Monroe, Connecticut/Masuk) tallied doubles, while Orzechowski recorded a sacrifice bunt and Rocco a sacrifice fly.

The Lions retired the Skyhawks in the top of the first, as Molloy was able to connect on one hit in the bottom of the frame with Angelo Navetta singling through the right side.

Stonehill was able to get on the board first in the top of the second with two outs, Alexander Joyce (Newton, Massachusetts/Newton North), Rob Duarte (Raynham, Massachusetts/Bridgewater-Raynham Regional), and Jeremiah Vargas (Waterbury, Connecticut/Kennedy High/Taft School) walked getting the bases loaded for Quinn. The sophomore was hit by a pitch, bringing in Joyce for a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the second, the Lions were able to respond with a run of their own, as they got the bases loaded with one out and Jack McCarty grounded out to shortstop and Michael Wall scored tying the game at one, 1-1.


Quinn tallied his first double of the season

Stonehill saw its first lead of the game, 2-1, as Rocco put the ball through the three-four hole and Tyler Carey (Raynham, Massachusetts/Bridgewater-Raynham) walked, giving Sabo an opportunity to drive in a run. The junior singled to left field with no outs bringing in Rocco. The Skyhawks left one on base at the end of the inning, as the Lions retired the side with a strike out and a pop up to second.

Neither team recorded a hit in the fourth, but both offenses were active in the fifth frame. Orzechowski kicked off the attack with a double down the left field line and advanced to third on an error by the pitcher. Rocco flew out to center field for a sacrifice fly, extending the lead to two, 3-1. With one out and runners on first and third, Kelleher reached on an error scoring Carey from third, 4-1.

Molloy led off the bottom half the inning with back-to-back walks and a hit-by-pitch to get the bases loaded. Sean Hogan also walked to bring in a run, 4-2, with no outs. After a sacrifice fly and a throwing error, the Lions tied the game, 4-4, and then took their first lead of the game after Jake Saltzman was hit by a pitch, 5-4.

The Lions picked up another run in the bottom of the sixth after shutting down the Skyhawks in the top of the frame. Stonehill outhit Molloy in the final three innings, 2-1, but the Lions' eight hits were the game decider for a 6-4 victory.

Stonehill (6-5) takes on Barry University tomorrow, Saturday, March 10 with a first pitch scheduled at 6:00 p.m. at Feinbloom Field in Miami Shores, Florida.

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