Salem, Va. – The Molloy softball team was held to just two hits in its opening game at the NCAA Division II Softball Championship, falling 4-0 to fourth-seeded West Virginia Wesleyan College. The Lions (37-17) move into the losers bracket and will face eighth-seeded Humboldt State University tomorrow (May 26) at 4:00 p.m. EST.
The Bobcats put one run on the board in the first inning on a squeeze play from senior Olivia Gore (Berryville, Va.). Junior Morgan Bruce (Lynchburg, Va.) and Gore would each homer in the contest to give West Virginia Wesleyan the four runs.
The best chance for the maroon and white came in the fourth inning, as junior Olivia Banulski (Bristol, Conn.) led off with a single to left before senior Erin Clinton (Long Beach, Calif.) advanced her to second on a sacrifice bunt. A single from graduate student Milan Botte (San Diego, Calif.) put runners on the corners, but Molloy was unable to drive them in, as the next two batters grounded out.
Senior Chelsea Hawks (Wading River, N.Y.) fell to 20-12, giving up four runs on seven hits, fanning seven. Sophomore Jenna Turato (Garden City South, N.Y.) pitched a clean inning of relief in the sixth. For the Bobcats, junior Hannah Vet (Naples, Fla.) struck out four, allowing only two hits while Gore went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.
Provided by the Molloy Sports Information Department.
