Offense Struggles in Baseball ECC Loss to Molloy
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Mar. 25, 2012) – The Mercy College baseball team struggled to get its offense going against Molloy College in an East Coast Conference matchup on Sunday afternoon and fell 11-0.
Molloy improves to 8-14 overall and 1-2 in the ECC, while Mercy drops to 4-15 (2-2).
The game was contested tightly in the early going as Molloy getting a runner to third in the first inning was the closest either team came to scoring until the top of the third, when Mercy finally got some offense going with a pair of walks leading to men on second and third, but a hard lineout to first base ended the frame still scoreless.
It was not until the bottom of the fourth that the game's first run crossed the plate. Senior third baseman Ryan Akers (Clifton, N.J.) singled to lead off the inning and was doubled in by junior designated hitter Erik Pyle (Atlantic Beach, N.Y.). An error moved Pyle to third and he scored on a sacrifice fly to give Molloy the 2-0 lead heading into the fifth.
The Lions began to open the floodgates as the game progressed, leading off the fifth inning with a pair of singles and loading the bases on an error, eventually scoring three in the frame and another four in the sixth. They tacked on another two in the seventh to take a commanding 11-0 lead.
Senior Jason Lembo (East Meadow, N.Y.) severely limited the Mercy offense in giving up just one hit and three walks while striking out 10 over his six innings of work for the Lions.
Down to their last chance in the ninth inning, the Mavericks came close to staging a rally as they loaded the bases but a single in the last at-bat was nullified as the throw home beat the runner to end the game.
Freshman Joseph Pareres (Bronxville, N.Y.) surrendered five runs (three earned) on five hits while striking out one over five innings. Freshman Brian Solomon (Newburgh, N.Y.) impressed in his inning of work, striking out the side in the ninth.
Several Lions had productive days at the plate, including freshman second baseman Joe Liberatore (Blue Point, N.Y.) who went 3-4 with two runs and an RBI and senior shortstop Frank Marchisello (Staten Island, N.Y.) who was 3-4 with two runs and an RBI. Pyle was 3-4 including a double and stolen base with two RBI and a run while Akers and junior left fielder Greg Walsh (Bellmore, N.Y.) were 1-4 with two runs and an RBI each.
Head Coach Bob Greiner and the Mavericks will look to bounce back on Tuesday, March 27 at Queens College (5-9, 0-3) for a 3:00 p.m. first pitch.
