Garden City, N.Y. – A walk-off single from junior Makayla Harris (Berlin, Conn.) in the bottom of the eighth inning punched Molloy's ticket to the NCAA Division II Softball College World Series in Salem, Va. The Lions (37-16) return to the World Series for the first time since 2013 after taking two games from the Adelphi Panthers to become East Regional Champions. Senior Chelsea Hawks (Wading River, N.Y.) fanned eight in the 3-2 extra inning victory to improve to 20-11 on the season.
The maroon and white came out of the gate firing, as junior Sarah Rambo (Eagleville, Pa.) laced a triple down the left field line to score graduate student Milan Botte (San Diego, Calif.), giving Molloy the early 1-0 lead. The Panthers, however, knotted the contest in the top of the second on a RBI double from Stephan Staiano (East Meadow, N.Y.).
Adelphi took a 2-1 lead in the third inning on a triple from Brenna Martini (Fairfield, Conn.) and would carry it through the end of five innings. Senior Erin Clinton (Long Beach, Calif.) started the sixth inning for Molloy with a double to left field. An intentional walk to Botte and Rambo reaching first safely on an error by the Adelphi shortstop loaded the bases for pinch hitter Mikaela Tribby (Boca Raton, Fla.). The freshman pushed a single up the middle to knot the score headed into the final inning.
With neither team able to score in the seventh, the game was sent to extra innings. The Panthers had a runner reach second base, but Hawks induced three pop ups to keep the run from crossing home. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Botte was intentionally walked for the fourth time of the day to bring up Rambo. The junior singled up the middle, putting runners on first and second base. Junior Brianna Dalton (Northampton, Pa.) followed suit, singling through the left side to load the bases for Harris, whose single drove in Botte, giving Molloy the 3-2 victory and a ticket to the College World Series.
Provided by the Molloy Sports Information Department.
