Molloy University Athletics

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FLUSHING, N.Y. (May 2, 2015) – On Day 2 of the East Coast Conference Softball Championship Tournament, the Molloy College Lions defeated the New York Institute of Technology in its first game of the afternoon, 3-2. In the Lions' second contest of the day, Molloy was tied with LIU Post, 7-7, in the top of the 11th inning before it was suspended due to darkness. The game resumed on Saturday at 10 a.m.  The Pioneers scored three times in the aforementioned top of the 11th and eventually secured the 10-7 victory. With the loss, the Lions conclude their season with a 24-27 record, while the Pioneers (30-14-1) moved on to face Queens College for the ECC title.

Game 1: Molloy 3, NYIT 2
Senior Victoria Gunnels (North Bellmore, N.Y.) started the scoring off with an RBI single in the third inning, bringing home sophomore Ashley Fedor (Monroe, Conn.). Two frames later, Gunnels slammed a two-run homer down the left field line. That dinger drove in junior Tracey Balinskas (Edison, N.Y.) and it gave Molloy a 3-0 lead.

NYIT plated a pair of runs in the fifth inning to cut its deficit to 3-2. However, Molloy's pitching held up and secured the final two innings to lock down the 3-2 victory and advance in the Tournament. The Bears were eliminated from the postseason with the loss.

In the circle, Balinskas went the distance, surrendering two runs (both unearned) in seven innings. She gave up seven hits and struck out two.  Balinskas improved to 12-10 on the campaign.

Game 2: LIU Post 10, Molloy 7 (11 innings)
In the bottom of the first inning, freshman Sarah Rambo (Eagleville, Pa.) walked with the bases loaded, before sophomore Erin Clinton (Long Beach, Calif.) singled home Gunnels and Balinskas. Also on that play, Clinton advanced to second on a fielding error committed by the Pioneers, which in turn allowed Rambo to score. Molloy held a 4-0 advantage.

Following an LIU Post sacrifice fly in the second inning, Molloy answered with another three runs in the same frame. Gunnels was at it again with a two-run single, bringing home Fedor and freshman Olivia Banulski (Bristol, Conn.). Moments later, Rambo grounded out, allowing Balinskas to score. Molloy, at this point, harbored a 7-1 lead.

Four innings later, the Pioneers pieced together a six-run sixth inning to tie the game at 7-7.

Sophomore Chelsea Hawks (Wading River, N.Y.) went 5.1 innings, giving up all seven runs, although only two were earned. Out of the bullpen, Balinskas and junior Samantha Sauer (Plainview, N.Y.) combined for 5.2 innings, allowing three runs (all unearned).

In Saturday morning's continuation of the game, LIU Post struck for three runs in the top of the 11th inning via two Molloy fielding errors and an RBI single. In the bottom half of the 11th, Molloy had two runners reach base, but ultimately couldn't make a comeback, falling, 10-7.

This now wraps up the 2015 campaign for Head Coach Susan Cassidy-Lyke and the Lions. Please stay tuned to www.MolloyLions.com and @MolloyLions on Twitter for the softball program's news, notes and updates throughout the offseason as the Lions gear up for another run at an ECC crown.