Dowling Takes Down Molloy, 9-5, Splits Weekend Series

By Nakeem Grant

On a cold, damp Sunday afternoon in Uniondale, NY, Dowling showed plenty of grit against Molloy in the fourth game of their weekend series. After losing both games at home in their doubleheader on Saturday, Dowling bounced back on Sunday to win, 9-5.

Dowling found themselves trailing early on when Molloy jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first. Angelo Navetta got things going in the first for Molloy with an RBI single to right. He then scored on a wild pitch later in the inning and Albert Alberghina followed up with an RBI single of his own.

Chris Cepeda on the hill for Dowling (Photo Credit: Nakeem Grant)

Molloy seemed to have Dowling’s freshman, Chris Cepeda, on the ropes to start the game but he responded to the adversity with great vigor. He gave up just one earned run after the first inning and went on pitch seven innings despite giving up 13 hits. Cepeda struck out seven batters and worked out of three bases-loaded jams.

“He’s a competitor,” said head coach Tom Caputo. “In situations with the bases loaded, you want somebody out there that competes whether they’ve got their stuff or not.”

Cepeda kept Dowling in the game and their bats came alive in the fourth when they scored four runs to tie up the game at 4-4. Dowling banged out four hits in the inning with the game-tying hit coming from junior shortstop, Tyler Piccolo.

Molloy’s starter, Kevin Hiss–who made the Weekly Honor Roll for the ECC earlier in the week–looked poised to have a great outing. His curveball got him ahead in the count through most of the batters that he faced during his first time around the order. His fortunes changed however once Dowling took a better approach to Hiss’s pitches.

“We just made a few adjustments with the hitters after the second inning and it worked out in our favor,” said Caputo.

Dowling’s adjustments paid off as Hiss only made it through four and a third, allowing five runs on eight hits.

The Going brothers, R.J. and Tim set the table for Dowling’s offense during most of their big innings on offense. They each had two hits and two runs scored as Molloy could not keep them off the bases.

“With them at the top of the order and their on-base percentages where they are, we know we’ll have an opportunity to score a run every time they’re up,” said coach Caputo.

Dowling extended their lead in the 9th with a bases loaded walk followed by a hit by pitch and a perfectly executed squeeze play by senior, Michael Richter.

Cepeda improved his record to 5-0 on the season while Hiss lost his first game. It was a highly competitive series with two of the four games being decided by one run. Molloy sits in second place in the ECC at 12-8 while Dowling is in fourth at 11-9. Dowling still has a chance to make the playoffs this year but coach Caputo knows that there is more work to be done.

“The way it looks, we’re going to have to win at least two games,” said coach Caputo. “We have got to go in there and take care of business next week against Bridgeport.” Dowling is just half a game back from Bridgeport.