Molloy University Athletics

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BROOKHAVEN, N.Y. (Mar. 27, 2014) - On Thursday afternoon, the Molloy College softball team opened up East Coast Conference-action with a twinbill at Dowling College in Brookhaven, N.Y.  The Lions handled Dowling with ease in Game 1, defeating the Golden Lions, 11-3. The second contest was halted due to darkness in the sixth inning with the score tied, 2-2. The game will be resumed at a later date in the season.

With the win in Game 1, Molloy improved to 5-8 overall and 1-0 in the conference. Following the loss, Dowling slipped to 8-12 on the season and 1-2 in ECC play.

Game 1: Molloy 11, Dowling 3

Right off the bat, the Lions grabbed a quick 2-0 lead as sophomore catcher Milan Botte (San Diego, Calif.) smacked a two-run homer in the first inning. She drove in sophomore pitcher Tracey Balinskas (Edison, N.J.). Two innings later, Balinskas scored again, this time on a wild pitch. Three runs scored in the fourth frame for Molloy, including two on RBI singles by junior second baseman Brenda Lee (Corona, Calif.) and Balinskas.

Behind 6-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Dowling plated its first run of the game on a homer from Jamie Laird. Between the sixth and seventh innings, the Lions scored three times. Senior outfielder Lauren Alexander (Huntington, N.Y.) had an RBI single, which was followed by back-to-back home runs. The first was a two-run shot from Botte (her second of the game and fifth of the season), while senior outfielder Dayna White (East Islip, N.Y.) had the other dinger. A Dowling run in the bottom of the seventh didn't help much as Molloy was able to secure the 11-3 victory.

In the circle, Balinskas threw all seven innings, surrendering three runs on seven hits, while striking out three. At the dish, Balinskas went 5-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs, while Botte finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBIs. Also perfect on the day, Alexander went 4-for-4 at the plate.  As a team, the Lions pounded out 18 hits.

Game 2: Molloy 2, Dowling 2 (halted due to darkness in the sixth inning)

The second contest of the day started off with Molloy senior shortstop Nicolette Sinagra (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scoring as White reached base via a fielding error. Dowling tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom half of the opening frame when Laird singled in a run. Sinagra was on the other end of the next RBI opportunity as she drove in junior outfielder Brianne Catalano (Franklin Square, N.Y.) with a single through the left side. In the bottom of the fifth, Dowling's Tammy Vermeulan homered to right field to knot the score at 2-2. However, darkness crept onto the field, halting the game in the sixth inning.

Over five innings, Molloy freshman pitcher Chelsea Hawks (Wading River, N.Y.) hurled five innings, giving up two runs (one earned). She struck out three.

Head Coach Susan Cassidy-Lyke and the Lions return to action this Saturday, Mar. 29 when they host a doubleheader versus Southern New Hampshire University. The first game will begin at 12 p.m.  LiveStats will be available right here at MolloyLions.com.