UNIONDALE, N.Y. - Senior pitcher, Jose Toribio (West New York, N.J.) put together a quality outing on the mound but it wasn't enough as Bloomfield was defeated 8-5 by Molloy College. The loss marks the Bears (1-9) fourth consecutive setback and the Lions (8-9) third straight win.

Toribio gave up a single in the first to Deilyn Guzman (Hampton, N.Y.) who then stole second base immediately and later scored on a throwing error by the Bears starter during a pickoff attempt. Guzman's wheels set the tone early for Molloy who went on to swipe 11 bags in the game. Guzman was responsible for two of those stolen bases while picking up one hit and a run batted in.

The Lions scored two more runs in the second inning on a wild pitch and a Guzman sacrifice fly to make it 3-0 Lions.

Toribio settled down and kept the Molloy offense hitless for the remainder of his outing. The Bears rallied behind Toribio putting up two runs in the third to get them right back in the game. Second baseman Ray Lang (Middlesex, N.J.) led off the inning with a walk and then Isaiah Arroyo (Tampa, F.L) and Anthony Lantigua (Belleville, N.J.) were each hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Issac Pichardo (Passaic, N.J.), Bloomfield's hottest hitter, smoked a ball down to third base for a single to bring Lang home and get the Bears on the board. A couple of batters later Juan Reina (Paterson, N.J.) grounded into a fielder's choice bringing in Lantigua to make it 3-2.

Bloomfield got back to work in the top half of the fifth as sophomore, Brandon Morales (Hialeah, F.L.) came up to hit after a Lantigua single and Pichardo walk. Morales dropped down a perfect bunt down the third base line and reached on a throwing error by the Lions' pitcher that scored Pichardo and Lanitgua to give the Bears a 4-3 lead. Reina stole second base while Morales stole home to put the visitors up 5-3 heading into the sixth.

In the bottom of the seventh sophomore, Ellis Sanchez (Kearny, N.J.) came in to relieve Toribio who finished his day with three earned runs and four strikeouts over six innings of work. Sanchez loaded the bases with nobody out before giving up a two-run double to Kevin Podell (Wantagh, N.Y.) to tie the game at 5-5. Podell went 2-4 for the game with three runs batted in.

Sanchez was pulled and senior Mark Reyes (Bronx, N.Y.) came into the game. Reyes walked the only three batters he faced while allowing two runs to score on two wild pitches making it 7-5 Lions. Bloomfield brought in junior, Kyle Murzyn (Glassboro, N.J.) from the bullpen with the bases loaded and nobody out. Murzyn stranded all three runners to stop the Molloy ralley but the damage had already been done.

Molloy picked up an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when reliever, Steven Acosta (Lakewood, N.J.) came into the game for the Bears. The freshman walked Guzman to start the inning then surrendered an RBI single to Podell after Guzman swiped second for the second time in the game to make it 8-5.

Bloomfield looked like they had some more fight in them in the top of the ninth when Cristopher Cabral (Lodi, N.J.) laced a double into the right center field gap to get things going. The Bears were unable to capitalize on the leadoff double and left Cabral stranded on second to end the game.

Bloomfield returns to action on Thursday March 26th as they welcome the Philadelphia University Rams for a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game at Westside Park in Newark, N.J. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.

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(story written by Mark Reyes - Sports Information Department intern)