BASEBALL RALLIES IN NINTH TO WALK OFF VERSUS BRIDGEPORT, 5-4

Box Score vs. Bridgeport - April 10, 2012

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (Apr. 10, 2012) - Down 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, the Lions scored a pair of runs to earn a 5-4 win against East Coast Conference opponent University of Bridgeport in walk-off fashion on Tuesday at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y. Senior shortstop Frank Marchisello (Staten Island, N.Y.) tied up the contest with a one-out single up the middle, while red-shirt freshman second baseman John Galanoudis (Farmingdale, N.Y.) won it with a double to centerfield.

Molloy (13-18, 3-6 ECC) and Bridgeport (7-12, 4-6 ECC) traded runs throughout the game. In the second inning, the Purple Knights opened up the scoring, pushing across one run. With a runner on second base, and two down, senior first baseman Eric Schlitter (Guilford, Conn.) slapped an RBI single through to the left side for the early advantage. One inning later, the Lions responded, and tied up the game, off an RBI single by sophomore outfielder Carlos Guzman (Bloomingburg, N.Y.).

Molloy then took its first lead of the game in the fifth. After back-to-back hit by pitches put two runners on with one away, a pick-off attempt at second base by Bridgeport went astray, which plated Greg Walsh (Bellmore, N.Y.) for a 2-1 edge. The Purple Knights and Lions each traded a run in the seventh, holding it at a one-run game (3-2), before UB battled back with a pair of runs in its half of the eighth inning, which put the visitors in the driver's seat by a score of 4-3.

Schlitter and senior outfielder Matt Nassi (North Providence, R.I.) each picked up an RBI in the scoring. Molloy was turned away in Bottom-8, before rallying to win it in the ninth. Senior outfielder Carmine Pellechia (Staten Island, N.Y.) led off the stanza with a double down the left-field line, and a Walsh sacrifice bunt got him over to third. Marchisello followed up with a single up the middle to bring around Pellechia for the game-tying run.

Sophomore outfielder Carlos Guzman (Bloomingburg, N.Y.) kept things going with a single, and Galanoudis won it with a double to dead-center, as Marchisello jetted 180 feet for the game-winning score. Junior right-handed hurler Patrick Brown (Howard Beach, N.Y.) got the win. He tossed two innings of scoreless relief for his second victory of the 2012 season. Junior southpaw Jason Lembo (East Meadow, N.Y.) made the start for Molloy. He received the no-decision after tossing seven innings of five-hit, four-run (two earned), five-walk, eight-strikeout ball.

Molloy returns to the diamond on Saturday (Apr. 14) in a twinbill at ECC nemesis Queens College. First pitch for Game One is scheduled for noon.