MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Feb. 17, 2017) – The Molloy College softball team opened the 2017 season with two wins at the Snowbird Freeze Out tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Lions first earned a 7-0 win over the Golden Eagles of Clarion University before going to a 10-inning pitchers' duel with Merrimack College that saw Molloy win 2-1.

Game 1: Molloy College 7, Clarion University 0
The maroon and white got on the board in the bottom of the third following a double up the middle from junior Brianna Dalton (Northampton, Pa.), driving in two runs. The rally continued as junior Sarah Rambo (Eagleville, Pa.) drove Dalton in with a double of her own. The fourth inning saw the bases loaded for graduate student Milan Botte (San Diego, Calif.), who drew a walk to increase the lead to 4-0. The bases remained loaded for Dalton, who drew in two more runs. The junior picked up her fifth RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, scoring junior Olivia Banulski (Bristol, Conn.).

On the mound for the Lions, senior Chelsea Hawks (Wading River, N.Y.) recorded the shutout, retiring seven batters via strikeout and giving up two hits. Molloy registered eight hits in the win, led by two each from Botte and Dalton.

Game 2: Molloy College 2, Merrimack College 1 (10 innings)
In the day's second contest, the Lions fell behind early as senior Kaleigh Finigan (Medford, Mass.) placed a single through the right side in the second inning. The maroon and white tied the game on a single from senior Erin Clinton (Long Beach, Calif.) in the top of the fourth. The Molloy defense made a number of spectacular plays in the field, featuring catches from junior Chrissy Heyer (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and sophomore Kaitlyn Snyder (Smithtown, N.Y.) in the outfield and a number of plays from senior Ashley Fedor (Monroe, Conn.) at third base to keep the Warriors off the board. Sophomore pitcher Jenna Turato (Garden City South, N.Y.) retired 17 of the next 22 batters in her nine innings of work.

In the eighth and ninth, both teams were able to put runners on base but neither were able to score a run. In the top of the tenth, Synder placed a sacrifice bunt to advance Clinton to third. Heyer reached on a fielder's choice. With runners on first and third, Fedor came to the plate. The senior drove a single through the left side to bring Clinton home and break the 1-1 tie.
Hawks entered in relief in the bottom of the tenth, striking out her first batter. The senior retired the next to batters to pick up the save as Molloy earned the 2-1 win.

The Lions return to action tomorrow with contests against Le Moyne College at 10:00 a.m. and Concord University at 2:00 p.m.