Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. - The NYIT softball team got off to a winning start in the double-elimination East Coast Conference postseason tournament.
The third-seeded Bears snapped second-seeded Molloy's 13-game winning streak with a 3-0 win in Thursday afternoon's opener at Mercy College.
Laura McLaughlin tossed a shutout and Jessica Daniel and Josephine Santagata delivered consecutive RBI singles in a two-run fifth inning.
NYIT (25-16) advances to the winners' bracket and, weather-permitting, will face top-seeded Mercy on Saturday.
The game will be played in Rockville Centre because of expected rain-induced field-condition issues at Mercy, the intended host.
Molloy (32-15) will play in an elimination game against LIU Post.
The Bears had stranded runners in scoring position in the third and fourth innings before breaking the scoreless tie in the fifth. Christine Rizzacasa started the decisive rally with a one-out double. Daniel then delivered an RBI single and advanced to second base on a fielding error. Allowing Daniel to reach second base proved costly for Molloy when Santagata followed with an RBI single.
"My first at-bat I struggled a little bit, but I knew my second at-bat I'd be fine," Santagata said. "Once that first runner got on, I was like, 'I've got to get her in.' That's what I did."
NYIT loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, but failed to expand on the lead. The Bears did benefit from an error from Molloy in the seventh that prolonged the inning and allowed Tiffany McCracken to deliver an RBI double.
McLaughlin didn't need the extra support. She completed her seventh shutout and 19th complete game of the season.
The Bears have now won 12 of their past 15 games.
"We came through at the right times, and we're just going to continue from here on out," Santagata said.
Provided by the NYIT Sports Information Department.
