Brookville, N.Y. - The Molloy College softball team earned another trip back to the East Coast Conference Championship game when the Lions defeated top-seeded and No. 17 LIU Post, 6-5 on Saturday at LIU Post's Softball Complex in Brookville, N.Y. With the win, the Lions are now 30-20-1, while the Pioneers dropped to 42-8 on the season. Molloy will take on LIU Post tomorrow at 10 a.m. in its bid for a fourth-straight ECC title.
Senior outfielder Dayna White (East Islip, N.Y.) was responsible for the Lions' first two runs of the game. In the first, she doubled in senior shortstop Nicolette Sinagra (Brooklyn, N.Y.), while in the third frame, White singled in junior second baseman Brenda Lee (Corona, Calif.). LIU Post took its first lead of the contest in the fourth when the Pioneers scored four times by way of a pair of RBI singles and a two-run double.
Down 4-2, Sinagra single-handedly cut her team's deficit in half when she crushed a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth. In the very next inning, LIU Post's Alexis Gonzalez smacked a solo homer for an insurance run. In the bottom of the fifth, the Lions plated three runs on a pair of homers to re-take the lead, eventually paving the way to victory. White bopped a solo shot to center field, while three batters later, junior first baseman Victoria Gunnels (North Bellmore, N.Y.) slugged a two-run homer to put Molloy in front. Senior outfielder Lauren Alexander (Huntington, N.Y.) scored on Gunnels' dinger.
In the circle, freshman starter Chelsea Hawks (Wading River, N.Y.) hurled five innings, surrendering five runs (two earned) on five hits. Sophomore pitcher Tracey Balinskas (Edison, N.J.) recorded a two-inning save.
Head Coach Susan Cassidy-Lyke and the Lions return to the diamond tomorrow morning when they take on LIU Post in the East Coast Conference Championship game at the Pioneers' softball complex in Brookville, N.Y. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. LiveStats and a video broadcast of the game will be available right here on MolloyLions.com. The Lions defeated the Pioneers in last year's ECC title game for their third-straight conference crown.
Provided by the Molloy Sports Information Department.
