MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Feb. 18, 2017) – The Molloy softball team continued in Day 2 of the Snowbird Freeze Out tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Lions split on the day, falling 2-0 to Le Moyne College before pulling out an 11-8 win over Concord University.
 
Game 1: Le Moyne 2, Molloy 0
The Lions found themselves in a jam early with Dolphins at first and third and one out with cleanup hitter Kelly Mascari (Syracuse, N.Y.) at the plate. The senior hit a long fly ball to left field, but sophomore Kaitlyn Snyder (Smithtown, N.Y.) was able to not only make the catch, but throw Courtney Case (Pittsford, N.Y.) out at the plate to end the inning and keep a run off the board.
The Lions were quiet at the bat through the first three innings, and found themselves down 1-0 following an RBI double from Sabrina Riley (Deer Park, N.Y.). Once again, Snyder was able to come up with the throw and keep Ally Nicolosi (Auburn, N.Y.) from scoring and ended the inning.

In the bottom of the third, the maroon and white had their best offensive opportunity of the game. Erin Clinton (Long Beach, Calif.) reached after being hit by a pitch, advancing to second following a wild pitch. Chrissy Heyer (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Olivia Banulski (Bristol, Conn.) both drew walks to load the bases for Milan Botte (San Diego, Calif.). Botte, however, got under the pitch and popped out to the pitcher to end the inning.

The Dolphins opened the fourth inning with a solo homer from Mascari to take a 2-0 lead. Pitcher Chelsea Hawks (Wading River, N.Y.) retired 12 of the next 15 batters, including five via the strike out. In both the sixth and seventh innings, Molloy had runners at third base, threatening to put a run on the board. Unfortunately, the Lions were unable to bring them home in either instance and fell 2-0. Botte and Brianna Dalton (Northampton, Pa.) had the lone hits for Molloy on the day. Hawks struck out six batters while giving up eight hits and one walk in the loss. Freshman Peyton Bellrose (Liverpool, N.Y.) earned the win for Le Moyne.

Game 2: Molloy 11, Concord 8
Molloy got on the board early, scoring two runs in the first inning of play. Senior Ashley Fedor (Monroe, Conn.) stepped into the box to lead off and took first base after being hit by the pitch. Banulski put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Fedor to second before Tiana Deoliveira (Mastic, N.Y.) singled to left to drive in the run. Deoliveira advanced to third base following an error by the left fielder. Dalton drove the junior in on a sacrifice fly the following at bat. The Mountain Lions cut the lead to just one run following a home run from senior Lauren Lewis (Kearneysville, W.Va.) in the bottom of the first.

The maroon and white extended their lead to five runs in the top of the third. Banulski and Deoliveira each singled to start the inning and were advanced on a ground out from Dalton. Freshman Mikaela Tribby (Boca Raton, Fla.) scored Banulski on a sacrifice fly to put Molloy up 3-1. Junior Alexandra Russo (Coram, N.Y.) laced a double down the left field line to score Deoliveira. Clinton walked before Snyder and Heyer each singled in a run to set the score at 6-1 Lions.

In the bottom of the third, Alayna Furr (Lovettsville, Va.) bunted her way onto first base for Concord. Lewis singled up the middle to bring her home and cut the lead to 6-2 as the teams headed into the fourth.
In the fifth, Fedor reached first on a ball hit up the middle, scoring Clinton to put the Lions up 7-2. The following batter, Banulski, drove two more runs in with a single to right field.  Tribby would put two more runs on the board in the sixth, launching the ball over the left field wall for her  first collegiate home run to bring in Dalton and set the score at 11-2.

In the bottom of the sixth, one out away from the mercy rule kicking in, sophomore Aarron Ward (Logan, W.Va.) drove in two with a homer of her own to keep the game alive. The Mountain Lions scored three more in the bottom of the seventh, but junior Makayla Harris (Berlin, Conn.) entered the game to get the final out and pick up the save.

Sophomore pitcher Jenna Turato (Garden City South, N.Y.) picked up her second win of the season in 6.2 innings of work while Sarah Herndon (Berryville, Va.) got the loss.

The maroon and white now sit at 3-1 on the season as they head into the final day of play in Myrtle Beach with games against Felician College and West Chester University of Pennsylvania at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.