Three-Run Seventh Inning Sinks Baseball Versus Molloy
Purple Knights Fall 3-1 In 2011 Home Opener
Bridgeport, Conn.-The Molloy College Lions (11-9 overall, 3-0 East Coast Conference) used a three-run seventh inning, capped of by a two-run homer by Robert LaRusso, to pick up a 3-1 baseball road win over the host University of Bridgeport Purple Knights (5-5 overall, 3-3 ECC) on Sunday afternoon.
UB grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when senior Tyler Moffat (Colonie, N.Y.) drove home classmate Gaetano Giunta (Brooklyn, N.Y.), who walked to lead off the inning, with a double to left field.
The Purple Knights held that 1-0 lead into the top of the seventh when the Lions tied the game on a double by Carmine Pellechia, who had three hits on the day, and then took the lead on LaRusso's two-run blast.
For Bridgeport, Tyler Moffat and freshman John Ascenzia (West Haven, Conn.), each had two hits.
Lefty Jason Lembo (2-1) picked up the win for Molloy pitching seven innings in which he allowed only one run on five hits, and Daniel Pelan pitched a scoreless ninth to record the save for the Lions.
Starter Shaun Hancock (Jr., Oakville, Ontario, Canada), who pitched 6.1 innings, took the loss for the Purple Knights. Hancock is now 2-1 on the season. Junior Tom Wiacek (Bolton Landing, N.Y.) worked 2.2 scoreless innings of relief for Bridgeport in which he did not allow a hit.
Molloy and UB will play again on Monday afternoon at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.