ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Apr. 1, 2016) - The Molloy College softball team knows how crucial and critical wins and losses can be, especially in the throes of conference season. With a 7-3 record in ECC play thus far, the Lions reside inside the top-4 of the eight-team standings; but slip-ups happen in a difficult league like the East Coast Conference so taking two from Queens College on Saturday (Apr. 2) is all the more critical.
Tracey Balinskas (Edison, N.J.) is backing up the pre-season recognition of being picked to retain her ECC Player of the Year Award from the 2015 season. The senior is hitting .409 with five home runs and 21 RBIs as well as sporting a .716 slugging percentage. Balinskas is a do-it-all player, as she also has a 6-4 record in the pitcher's circle for the maroon and white this season. The offense also revolves around junior infielder Ashley Fedor (Monroe, Conn.) who has three home runs so far this season, as well as sophomore catcher Alexandra Russo (Coram, N.Y.) who is third on the team with 19 RBIs. The pitching continues to be a main factor in the Lions' success this season, as freshman Jenna Turato (Garden City South, N.Y.) is 3-1 with a 2.13 ERA while junior Chelsea Hawks (Wading River, N.Y.) has a conference-best seven wins and a strikeout/walk ratio of 91/17.Queens College will come to Rockville Centre with a 7-9 record overall after splitting a Thursday (Mar. 31) doubleheader with Pace University. The Knights are 4-3 in East Coast Conference play and are also the defending ECC regular-season and postseason champions from 2015. Players to watch for the Knights include junior Kayla Morrissey (Glen Cove, N.Y.) who has hit a team-high two home runs and freshman Deanna Burbridge (Mahwah, N.J.), an all-around hitter who is tied for the team lead with a .326 batting average.
