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RINDGE, N.H. (May 31, 2021) -- Taking the mound on just three days’ rest, graduate student right-hander Timothy Panetta fired six scoreless innings and struck out nine on Monday afternoon at Pappas Field to send third-seeded Molloy through to the final round of the NCAA Championship East Regional, hosted by Franklin Pierce. Freshman Garrett Scavelli drove in a pair of runs, as Molloy eliminated fifth-seeded Goldey-Beacom, 6-4.

With the win, Molloy improves to 24-10 and will meet top-seeded Southern New Hampshire for the East Region title, beginning at 6 p.m. Monday. The Lions would have to defeat SNHU on Monday, and again on Tuesday, to claim the trophy. With the loss, Goldey-Beacom sees its first NCAA Championship appearance come to a close and finishes its season at 22-9.

Molloy got things started early with single runs in the bottom of the first and second innings. In the first, senior Jake McCarthy singled up the middle and later scored on an infield single by freshman Garrett Scavelli. In the second, junior Vincent Pecora singled to right, stole two bases and scored on an RBI groundout by graduate student James Messina.

The game’s pivotal moment came in the top of the sixth, when Goldey-Beacom loaded the bases with one away for senior Justin Hill. Panetta got out of it though, as he got Hill to pop up on the infield and then struck out junior Trent Hearn to end the threat.

Molloy capitalized with two more runs immediately, in the bottom of the sixth, which proved to be important. Goldey-Beacom picked up four in the top of the ninth, including a tape-measure three-run shot to right-center from sophomore Mason Maxwell, estimated at 410 feet, but it would not be enough for the Lightning to stave off elimination.

Working on three days’ rest after pitching Thursday’s game, Panetta (7-2) logged six scoreless innings on 84 pitches (57 strikes). He allowed four hits, walked two and piled up nine strikeouts.

Sophomore left-hander Anthony DiMartino (4-1) took the ball for Goldey-Beacom, but could not get through the fifth. Over 4.2 innings and 95 pitches (55 strikes), he surrendered three runs (two earned) on seven hits, walked three and struck out four.