Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 CLERMONT, Fla. (Mar. 12, 2016) – The Molloy College softball team split a doubleheader with Stonehill College on Saturday (Mar. 12) at the National Training Center Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. The Lions overpowered the Skyhawks with an 11-3 six-inning mercy rule win in game one of the contest, while Stonehill answered with a dominant pitching effort and a 1-0 win in the proverbial nightcap of the day.
Game One: Molloy 11, Stonehill 3
Banulski was the main star of the first game, but the Lions as a unit were responsible for knocking Stonehill starter Sarah Ropiak (Acton, Mass.) out of the game in the first inning. Molloy scored four runs in the first inning, as sophomore shortstop Brianna Dalton (Northampton, Pa.) drew a bases-loaded walk to put the maroon and white on the board. Junior Milan Botte (Reston, Va.) was hit by a pitch to bring home another run, then after a wild pitch it was an RBI single by Alexandra Russo (Coram, N.Y.) that put the Lions ahead 4-0. In the next inning, Banulski singled and scored on an RBI double by pitcher Tracey Balinskas (Edison, N.J.).
Stonehill scored three runs off of Balinskas in the third inning to cut the deficit to two at 5-3, but the Lions would then rally and dominate for the remainder of the game. In the fourth inning, Molloy scored five runs, as the team batted around for the second time in the contest. Banulski was the catalyst, as she doubled, stole third, and scored when Dalton hit a fly ball to right field that was dropped. Russo had another RBI single then after junior Erin Clinton (Long Beach, Calif.) loaded the bases with a single before freshman Katie Polselli (Charlton, Mass.) drove a pinch-hit single to the outfield to give the Lions a five-run advantage once again. Sophomore Bernadette Mullane (Bellmore, N.Y.) drew a bases-loaded walk from the No. 9 hole in the batting order and Banulski closed out the frame with an RBI single to put Molloy up 10-3. The native of Bristol, Conn. later tripled in Ashley Fedor (Monroe, Conn.) in the bottom of the sixth inning to end the game on account of a mercy rule, 11-3. Banulski went 5-for-5 in the contest with three RBIs to lead Molloy to the victory.
Game Two: Stonehill 1, Molloy 0
Molloy's vaunted offense was stymied by junior pitcher Megan Ruonavaara (Rocky Hill, Conn.), who twirled a no-hitter to stop the Lions' momentum. The Skyhawks got their lone run in the first inning as Michelle Carbone (Deer Park, N.Y.) laced an RBI double to center field off of junior pitcher Chelsea Hawks (Wading River, N.Y.). Hawks surrendered just four hits while walking one and striking out two in the loss. The maroon and white were held hitless, only reaching base on two Stonehill errors and a walk issued to Botte.
Molloy will face No. 19 Southern New Hampshire University on Sunday (Mar. 13) in a doubleheader from the National Training Center beginning at 1 p.m.
