ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Apr. 22, 2016) - Regardless of the standings and regardless of the current win totals, the Molloy College softball team will be tasked with finishing out the season on a high note as the East Coast Conference Tournament approaches next week. To get to Thursday (Apr. 28), the Lions must first close out the 2016 regular season campaign with three straight doubleheaders over the weekend. The action begins Friday (Apr. 22) at Caldwell University, moves to Dowling College on Saturday (Apr. 23) and wraps up on Sunday (Apr. 24) with a home doubleheader against Saint Thomas Aquinas College.
About the Lions
Ranked #10 in East Region
26-20, 16-9 ECC
Senior
Tracey Balinskas (Edison, N.J.) - .412 average, eight home runs, 15 doubles, 37 RBI, .693 SLG%
Junior
Milan Botte (Reston, Va.) - .383 AVG, 5 HR, 26 RBI.
Sophomore
Brianna Dalton (Northampton, Pa.) - .345 AVG, 11 doubles, 4 HR, 37 RBI.
Junior pitcher
Chelsea Hawks (Wading River, N.Y.) - 13-9 W-L, 2.84 ERA, 15 complete games, 134 strikeouts in 139.2 innings pitched, .230 batting average against.
The Opponents
Caldwell
Ranked No. 17, #1 in East Region
29-11, 21-3 CACC
Winners of 15 of last 16 games
Reigning CACC Player of the Week – Soph. C Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, N.J.) - .441 batting average, 14 HR, 45 RBI, .941 SLG%
Reigning CACC Pitcher of the Week - Jr. P Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, N.J.) – 13-7, 2.96 ERA, 98 SO in 116 IP, 14 Complete Games
Sr. P Amber Padilla (Chino, Calif.) – 15-3, 1.17 ERA, 11 CG, .206 BAA
Team batting average of .337; scores an average of 5.97 earned runs per game.
Swept Molloy in last meeting (6-2, 5-1) on Apr. 23, 2014. Eliminated Molloy from 2011 NCAA D2 East Sub-Regional.
Dowling
12-30, 6-18 ECC
Soph. IF Gianna Gatto (Smithtown, N.Y.) - .367 average, 28 RBI, .484 SLG
Srs. Victoria Gallagher (Miller Place, N.Y.) and Samantha Laird (Holbrook, N.Y.) and graduate outfielder Crystal Tarango (Fontana, Calif.) all with four home runs.
Soph. Vanessa Juengerkes (Islip, N.Y.) – 10-13, 3.75 ERA, 13 Complete Games. 151.1 IP & 97 Strikeouts.
Molloy beat Dowling 6-2, 8-4 at Klein Field on Apr. 6.
Saint Thomas Aquinas
14-27, 7-17 ECC
Freshman IF Kelcy McGeehan (Bayville, N.J.) - .301 AVG, 4 HR, 19 RBI.
Freshman P Briana Keaveney (New City, N.Y.) – 7-10, 3.80 ERA, 15 HR allowed.
Junior pitcher Julie Sosnicki (Wurtsboro, N.Y.) – 3-15, 3.91 ERA.
Molloy beat STAC 1-0, 6-5 in Sparkill on Mar. 22.
