Brookville, N.Y. - In its second game of East
Coast Conference Tournament play on Friday, the second-seeded
Molloy College softball team avoided elimination with a 10-1
triumph versus third-seeded Dowling College at LIU Post in
Brookville, N.Y. With the victory, the Lions secured their
fourth-straight appearance in the championship match.
Molloy (45-12) broke through in the bottom of the first, scoring
three runs, and never looked back. Junior shortstop Nicolette
Sinagra (Brooklyn, N.Y.), who was hit by a pitch to start the
frame, scored the first run, off a sacrifice fly from freshman
catcher Milan Botte (San Diego, Calif.). Freshman third baseman
Tracey Balinskas (Edison, N.J.) and junior designated player Dayna
White (East Islip, N.Y.) followed with back-to-back RBI base knocks
to extend the lead to 3-0.
One inning later, the Lions tacked on another pair. With two out,
and a pair of runners in scoring position, sophomore second baseman
Brenda Lee (Corona, Calif.) hit a two-RBI opposite-field single to
right to make it a 5-0 game.
Dowling (30-17) got one back though in the third. The Golden Lions
strung together three-straight singles off senior pitcher Megan
Butterworth (North Bellmore, N.Y.) to fill the bases. Senior
Stephanie Tarango (Fontana, Calif.) then hit into a fielder's
choice, which plated sophomore Tammy Vermuelen (Patchogue, N.Y.)
for DC's first run.
However, in the last of the frame, Molloy sealed the deal with a
five-spot. Sinagra anchored the offensive output in the stanza with
a grand slam to left. Senior outfielder Lauren Alexander
(Huntington, N.Y.) also chipped in an RBI single through the left
side, prior to Sinagra's blast.
In the circle, senior pitcher Megan Butterworth (North Bellmore,
N.Y.) earned the win. She scattered just five hits, two walks and
one run, with four strikeouts, in five innings of work.
Head Coach Susan Cassidy-Lyke and the Lions will now look to
capture their third-consecutive ECC crown on Saturday (May. 4),
when they face top-seeded LIU Post. First pitch is scheduled for
noon. Due to the double-elimination format, and the earlier loss to
the Pioneers, Molloy will need to win two games for the title.
Provided by the Molloy Sports Information Department.
