UNIONDALE, N.Y. — D'Youville (7-13, 2-4 ECC) split a conference doubleheader with Molloy (9-7, 4-2 ECC) on Friday afternoon at Mitchel Field, falling 9-6 in the opener before responding with a 3-2 victory in game two.
In game one, the Saints mounted a strong offensive push in the middle innings, highlighted by four-runs in the sixth, but Molloy produced enough offense to hold on for the win in the opener.
The Lions struck first in the second inning on a sacrifice fly and extended its lead with three runs in the fourth to take a 4-0 advantage. D'Youville broke through in the sixth inning with one of its most productive frames of the afternoon. Billy Morris started the rally with a single before Colby Wilson drew a walk. Blaise Kolbert delivered with a clutch RBI single to score Morris, and Cooper Cefaratti followed with a towering three-run home run that tied the game at 4-4.
Molloy answered in the bottom half of the sixth, plating four runs to reclaim the lead. D'Youville pushed across two more runs in the seventh on Kolbert's bases-loaded single that scored Jacob Cooper and Del Vecchio, trimming the deficit to 8-6. The Lions added one more in the seventh on a sacrifice fly, securing the victory with a final score of 9-6.
Kolbert led the Saints offensively in the opener, finishing with two hits and three RBIs, including a key two-out bases-loaded single in the seventh inning. Cefaratti's three-run homer provided a major momentum swing for the Saints, while Kevin Del Vecchio anchored the defense with five assists at shortstop. On the mound, Morris worked five innings and recorded five strikeouts. Evan Froelich added three innings of relief, allowing just two hits while striking out two.
In game two, the Saints responded with a gritty pitching performance and timely hitting to earn the split.
D'Youville jumped ahead in the third inning. Derek Onevelo reached on a walk and advanced on a fielder's interference before Jake Hollins delivered an RBI single to bring him home. Kolbert followed with another RBI single to score Billy Morris and give the Saints a 2-1 lead.
The Saints added an important insurance run in the sixth inning when Cefaratti reached after being hit by a pitch and eventually scored on a two-out RBI single from Michael Huff II.
Kolbert continued his productive day at the plate with two hits and an RBI in game two, while Hollins added an RBI single. Cefaratti also contributed offensively with a double and a run scored.
D'Youville's pitching staff locked down the narrow lead. Ty Graczyk had an impressive outing, striking out six batters across three innings while allowing just one earned run. Mihir Manerikar followed with four solid innings of relief, allowing one run while collecting two strikeouts to earn his second save of the season.
Molloy trimmed the lead to 3-2 in the seventh inning, but Manerikar shut the door to secure the victory and the doubleheader split for the Saints.
D'Youville returns to action tomorrow as the Saints continue conference play with a doubleheader at the College of Staten Island.
