Molloy Dumps No. 14/22 SNHU, 8-3, Forces Decisive Game at NCAA East Regional
RINDGE, N.H. (May 31, 2021) -- Five runs in the top of the third set the tone early on Monday night, as third-seeded Molloy used an 8-3 win over top-seeded and No. 14/22 nationally ranked Southern New Hampshire to force a decisive game at the NCAA Championship East Regional, hosted by Franklin Pierce. The two teams will meet again at noon on Tuesday at Pappas Field to decide the regional title.
With the win, Molloy improves to 25-10 and forces the winner-take-all game on Tuesday. With the loss, SNHU falls to 27-7.
Trailing 1-0, Molloy took control of the game with a five-spot in the top of the third. Two runs scored on bases-loaded walks, as sophomore right-hander Ricky Alexy came on from the bullpen, but could not locate the strike zone. The only RBI hit of the inning came from junior Vincent Pecora, as the other two runs scored on a combination fielder’s choice/error.
The Penmen used an RBI double in the third and a run-scoring single in the fourth, both from graduate student Marcus Chavez, to cut the gap to 5-3, but Molloy put the game on ice with three in the sixth. Sophomore David Franchi (fielder’s choice), graduate student James Messina (sacrifice fly) and senior Peter Theodorellis (sacrifice bunt) drove in the runs, as the Lions scored three without benefit of a hit.
Theodorellis also started on the mound for Molloy, and allowed three runs on seven hits over four innings. Senior right-hander Ryan Karp (2-0) took over from there and struck out five over five scoreless, one-hit innings to close things out.
Graduate student right-hander Nick Artymowicz (8-2) threw the first two innings for SNHU and suffered the loss after being touched for four runs (three earned) on three hits and three walks. Penmen pitching walked nine and hit a batter on the day, which enabled Molloy to score eight runs on just six hits.