Baseball Splits With Molloy; Walker Sets New Career Hits Record
Box Score Game 1
Box Score Game 2
Brookville, N.Y. (March 28, 2009)- C.W. Post Pioneer Kyle Walker (Wantagh, N.Y.) set a new career hits record as he led the Pioneers to split with Molloy College in a doubleheader conference match-up Saturday afternoon. Molloy claimed the first game after 13 innings of play, 2-1. C.W. Post then rallied back the second game of the afternoon to overcome the Lions 4-3.
C.W. Post has earned an overall record of 7-17, 3-2 in the ECC, while Molloy posts a record of 11-10 overall, and 2-3 in conference.
With a total of four hits for the afternoon, Walker has now broken the all-time career hits record of 208, set by Joe Cioffi in the 1985-1988 seasons. Walker earned one hit in the first game of the afternoon and three in the second to bring his current career total hits up to an astounding 209.
The Lions put themselves onto the board first in the third inning as shortstop Patrick Walsh got on base with a walk. He continued his drive as he stole second base and was eventually brought home when teammate Joseph Menendez singled to left center.
Shortstop Bryan Bonin (Commack, N.Y.) earned one of his two hits for the game as he doubled down the left field line, allowing teammate Edward Bartley (Bethpage, N.Y.) to score a run and tie the game. The two teams continued to battle into thirteen innings when T.J. Greig ran in the winning run for the Lions.
Michael Vecchione earned the win for Molloy, allowing three hits and no runs in five innings. Mark Czerniawski (Glen Cove, N.Y.) made the start on the mound for C.W. Post, giving up six hits and one run in seven innings. He was replaced by Glen Hudson (West Sayville, N.Y.) and Brian Saldana (Deer Park, N.Y.) who combined for seven hits and one run in six innings of play.
The Pioneers came back with a vengeance in the second game, as they struck early with a run in the first inning. Walker singled up the middle to earn a spot on base before he ultimately scored the game's first run as senior first baseman Anthony Montesano (Bellmore, N.Y. ) hit a fly ball out to left field.
Molloy answered back with two runs of their own in the top of the second inning, as Walsh scored again for the lions along with Brian Benes. Molloy would not stay on top for long, as Walker earned an RBI, allowing Jordan Stevens (Sound Beach, N.Y.) to pull in the tying run.
C.W. Post pulled themselves ahead again in the bottom of the fifth as Montesano earned his second RBI of the game to allow Mike Callaghan (East Meadow, N.Y.) to score. Molloy answered back in the top of the sixth before the Pioneers silenced their opponent with the final run of the game. After Walker earned his record breaking hit with a single up to center field, catcher Stephen Orefice (Wappingers Falls) singled to shortstop, allowing Walker to score a run and earn the win for the Pioneers.
Pete Budkevics (Deer Park, N.Y.) pitched all seven innings for C.W. Post, allowing six hits and three runs for the game, earning himself a win.
Michael Maddi took the loss for Molloy, giving up seven hits and three runs in his five innings. Michael Mongiardo finished the game for the lions, allowing five hits and one run in just over one inning on the mound.
The Pioneers are back in action Monday, March 30 as they host Dominican college at 3:30 p.m.