by Vinny Messana
It was a terrific run, but the clock has struck midnight on the 2016 season for both Molloy and Dowling in the NCAA East Regionals.
Molloy was eliminated, 11-5, by Southern New Hampshire. Despite taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single by Jack McCarty, they fell behind 7-1 when SNHU got the bats going in the fourth and fifth innings.
The Lions were able to scratch and claw their way within two runs on an error, passed ball, sac fly by Angelo Navetta and another run-scoring hit by McCarty.
That was as close as they would get, as SNHU broke it open with an RBI single in the seventh and a three-run shot in the eighth. With the loss, the Lions finished their season with a record of 31-23. They had much to be proud of, though.
Angelo Navetta, Deilyn Guzman and Kevin Podell eclipsed 70 hits on the season. Anthony Alberghina drove in an impressive 37 runs and Brian Murphy swiped 31 bases in 37 tries.
Ron Bauer led the team with seven wins and 2.24 ERA. Anthony Catinella led the team in Ks with 80.
Despite winning their opening game of the regionals, Dowling was defeated in the next two. In the elimination game against the University of Bridgeport, they were down 7-1 in the top of the eighth but made a spirited comeback.
Tim Going got the run-scoring started with a sac fly, his brother, R.J., hit an RBI single and Michael Rizzitello walked with the bases loaded to cut the lead to 7-4.
In the ninth, Tim Going scored Chris Russo with an RBI single and Kenneth Fils-Aime ripped an RBI single to score Rob Costanzo and cut the lead to 7-6. The magic ran out, however, and R.J. Going flied out to left center field to dash the Golden Lions hopes of a miraculous comeback.
They finished with a record of 28-24. They were led offensively by Rizzitello’s .328 average, R.J. Going’s 55 hits, Rizzitello’s 34 RBIs and Tim Going’s perfect 22 stolen bases in 22 tries.
Chris Cepeda and Cody McPartland each recorded seven wins, Cepeda led qualified pitchers with a 3.03 ERA and McPartland led with 94 Ks.
Both teams had tremendous seasons and have nothing to hang their heads about.
