BASEBALL LOSES TO DOWLING IN REGULAR-SEASON FINALE, 3-1

Box Score vs. Dowling - May 5, 2009

BROOKHAVEN, N.Y. (May. 5, 2009) – On Tuesday, senior right-hander Eric Williams (Stamford, Conn.) threw a one-hitter over five innings of work, while fanning three, but it was not enough as the Molloy College baseball team fell to East Coast Conference rival Dowling College, 3-1, in its regular-season finale at Golden Lions’ Field in Brookhaven, N.Y. With the loss, the Lions got the No. 2 seed in the ECC Championship, and will receive a first-round bye. They also closed out the year at 26-17 overall and 16-8 in the league.

All of the scoring provided by Dowling (27-13, 16-8 ECC) came via miscues in the field by the Molloy defense. With runners on second and third base in Top-4, senior outfielder Matthew Monastero (Ridge, N.Y.) slapped a grounder to third. Sophomore infielder Joseph Menendez (Washington Heights, N.Y.) then brought in the ball off the hop, and overthrew senior first baseman Keith Kenny (Hicksville, N.Y.). Junior utility Daniel Pembroke (Shoreham, N.Y.) and sophomore infielder Colin Barnathan (Massapequa, N.Y.) came home on the throw.

The other run on an error came via a throw from junior catcher Brian Benes (Omaha, Neb.). Monastero scored after originally stealing third. Two innings later, Molloy posted its lone tally of the match-up on an RBI single by sophomore outfielder Robert LaRusso (Bayside, N.Y.). Senior infielder Patrick Walsh (Bellmore, N.Y.) ran down 180 feet from second base to plate himself. LaRusso and junior outfielder T.J. Greig (Staten Island, N.Y.) each notched a pair of hits in four at-bats on the day.

Williams dropped to a mark of 6-2 with the loss. He gave up three runs (none earned), one hit and one walk. Freshman pitcher Marc Rutledge (Ridge, N.Y.) got the victory for the Golden Lions after yielding four hits, one run and one walk, while striking out four in eight innings of action. Fellow rookie pitcher Nicholas Albero (New Rochelle, N.Y.) earned the save. He tossed a scoreless ninth, and sat down two hitters in the process.

Head Coach Joe Fucarino and the Lions will be in action next this Friday when they compete in the East Coast Conference Baseball Championships at noon. Molloy will await the victor of the game between No. 3 seed St. Thomas Aquinas College and No. 6 seed University of Bridgeport. The Spartans and Purple Knights are scheduled to face off in tomorrow’s play-in round.