The Trusted Home of Amateur Baseball on Long Island – From Travel through College

search icon
advertise with us

News

Molloy Wins a Thriller Over Felician to Advance to NCAA Division-II East Super Regionals

by Trevor Dugan

East Coast Conference champion Molloy University is one step closer to the College World Series after defeating Felician University, 3-2, Saturday in thrilling fashion to win the NCAA Division Il East 2 Regional.

Junior designated hitter Charlie Imhof was the hero for Molloy, coming through with a two-out, go-ahead single in the ninth inning to break a 2-2 tie.  

Fresh off of their third straight ECC championship, Molloy hosted this week’s regional matchups at Mitchel Park in Uniondale. Despite playing on their home turf, Molloy served as the away team and batted first against Felician Saturday afternoon.

Graduate student JC Kiss got the start for Molloy, giving up two runs over five innings but ultimately earning a no-decision. Freshman right hander Jason Torres earned the win after allowing just one hit over three shutout innings in relief of Kiss.

State Farm ken kortwright mobile ad black border

Junior southpaw Sadier Vicioso (Holy Trinity 2022) started on the mound for Felician and held Molloy in check the  first time through the lineup. He and Kiss traded scoreless innings until the top of the fourth, when the Lions broke the scoreless tie.

Molloy senior first baseman and East Coast Conference player of the year, Sean Welsh, led the top of the fourth off with a double down the left field line. He came around to score on a two-out double off the bat of senior left fielder Sean Serrano to make it 1-0 Molloy.

Serrano finished 2-for-4 with an RBI Saturday.

“Sean Serrano is our leader,” Molloy head coach Joe Fucarino said. “He’s been in this program for four years. He’s five foot six, 170 pounds, but he has a heart that’s bigger than anybody.”

Felician didn’t stay behind for long, taking the lead for themselves in the bottom of the fourth. Senior shortstop Matt Scrivanic got Felician on the board with an RBI single to left, tying the game at 1-1, before junior left fielder Andrew DeAngelis legged out an RBl infield single to put Felician on top 2-1.

Molloy responded to Felician’s rally by tying the score at 2-2 in the top of the fifth off of Felician junior reliever Aidan Denton. Senior catcher Jeremy Taggart reached base on a walk to lead the inning off, and was driven home two batters later on a sacrifice fly by Mike Sweeney.

Both sides went to their bullpen following the fifth inning, and traded scoreless frames until the top of the ninth. Torres was lights out for Molloy after Kiss exited following the fifth inning, and Andrew Gendi pitched 2.1 scoreless innings out of the pen for Felician.

In the top of the ninth, junior Collin Kratzer took the mound for Felician and began the inning by surrendering a walk to Molloy leadoff man Sweeney. The Lions’ SS was bunted over to second, and stayed there as Welsh was intentionally walked and sophomore LF Steve Mulqueen grounded out, bringing Imhof to the plate. 

IMG 1049

With two outs and the go ahead run on second, Imhof lined a base hit into left field, scoring Sweeney to ignite the home crowd and put Molloy back on top 3-2.

“Charlie’s been a grinder, he’s done everything we asked of him for three years,” coach Fucarino said. “He hasn’t always started, we’ve plugged him in here and there, but he stepped up this year and solidified our 3-4-5 hitters. He’s been important to us.”

Felician did not go down without a fight in the bottom of the ninth. Sophomore southpaw Artie Green took the mound for Molloy to begin the inning and recorded two straight outs before allowing a single and back-to-back walks, loading the bases and putting the winning run in scoring position for Felician.

At this point Molloy replaced Green with sophomore RHP Jayden Patel. It’s hard to imagine a more pressure packed spot for the reliever to find himself thrust into, but with the season on the line Patel forced a groundout to finish off the 3-2 win and punch Molloy’s ticket to the Super Regionals. 

Overcome with emotion after the win, Coach Fucarino was oozing with pride talking about this year’s Molloy squad.

“There’s a sign in our dugout that says ‘Faith, Family, Friends’, because we have faith in each other, we treat each other like family, and we’re all best friends,” coach Fucarino said through happy tears. “That’s what this program is all about, and we’re taking that into the Super Regionals with us.” 

Molloy will have to wait until Sunday afternoon for  the results of the Division II East 2 Regional to know which matchup awaits them at the NCAA Division II Super Regionals.