Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 |
Box Score 3 |
Box Score 4 TUCSON, Ariz. (Feb. 13, 2015) - This season, the Molloy College softball team kicked off its 2015 campaign with the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Leadoff Classic, which is a three-day, six-game tournament in Tucson, Ariz. After all the dust settled, the Lions finished with a 1-5 record in the tournament, which featured many nationally-ranked squads, including the defending NCAA Division II National Champion.
On Day 1 of the tournament, the Lions fell to the University of Central Oklahoma, 7-6, and lost to Metropolitan State University of Denver, 5-1. The second game had to be halted in the sixth inning due to a city ordinance regarding the ballpark's lights. In their season opener versus Central Oklahoma, the Lions received a three-run homer by senior first baseman
Victoria Gunnels (North Bellmore, N.Y.), who finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs.
On Day 2, the Lions were shutout by Midwestern State University, 10-0, and then were edged in a nailbiter versus Regis University (Colo.), 4-3 in eight innings.
Molloy earned its first victory of 2015 on Day 3 of the tournament when the Lions bested Texas Woman's University, 3-0. Gunnels drove in two runs with a single in the first inning, while freshman catcher
Alexandra Russo (Coram, N.Y.) singled home Gunnels in the sixth. Freshman centerfielder
Olivia Banulski (Bristol, Conn.) and junior pitcher
Tracey Balinskas (Edison, N.J.) touched home plate on Gunnels' aforementioned hit. In the circle, Balinskas hurled a three-hit, complete-game shutout. She whiffed five batters.
The Lions wrapped up their Arizona trip with a 4-2 loss to Western Oregon University.
Offensively, the Lions were led by Gunnels, who hit a sizzling .556 on the weekend, while Balinskas hit .389. Senior right fielder
Brianne Catalano (Franklin Square, N.Y.) recorded an average of .375 for the tournament, while rookie shortstop
Brianna Dalton (Northampton, Pa.) jumped out to a nice start for her collegiate career (.333 batting average). Gunnels also paced Molloy in home runs (1) and RBIs (10). Catalano had a pair of triples, while Gunnels recorded an eye-popping on-base percentage (.619) and slugging clip (.722).
Head Coach
Susan Cassidy-Lyke and her team will next be in action on March 8 when the Lions host Le Moyne College. That doubleheader will begin at 12 p.m. from Bob Klein Field in Rockville Centre, N.Y. Remember to stay tuned to MolloyLions.com for any information regarding schedule changes and weather-related postponements.
