PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Mar. 24, 2017) – Molloy split a doubleheader on the road at Philadelphia University. Senior Chelsea Hawks (Wading River, N.Y.) struck out nine batters in a 5-3 win, improving to 5-4 on the season in the first game while sophomore Jenna Turato (Garden City South, N.Y.) went 2.2 innings in a 9-1 loss to fall to 5-2 on the campaign.

Game One: Molloy 5, Philadelphia 3
The maroon and white got on the board first, as junior Olivia Banulski (Bristol, Conn.) singled to second to score junior Alexandra Russo (Coram, N.Y.), who singled to start the inning. In the top of the third, Russo picked up her second hit of the afternoon to score graduate student Milan Botte (San Diego, Calif.) to increase the lead to 2-0.

Molloy doubled their lead in the fifth inning on a single by senior Erin Clinton (Long Beach, Calif.) and a double from sophomore Kaitlyn Snyder (Smithtown, N.Y.).

The Rams brought three runs home in the home half of the sixth inning on a two-run triple from senior Monica Levins (Norristown, Pa.) and a single from freshman Jovanna Alfonsi (Hatfield, Pa.) to cut the deficit to only one run.

In the top of the seventh, Clinton led off with a walk. She moved to second on a single from Snyder. Both baserunners advanced the following at bat on a passed ball before Clinton scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-3. The Rams were able to get a runner into scoring position in the bottom half of the inning, but Hawks retired the side to earn the 5-3 victory.

Banulski, Russo, and Snyder each went 2-for-2 at the plate, while junior Tiana Deoliveira (Mastic, N.Y.) picked up the game's only stolen base.

Game Two: Molloy 1, Philadelphia 9; Five Innings
Molloy threatened early, loading the bases on two walks and a single from Botte in the top of the first. Sophomore pitcher Naomi Stas (Tuckerton, N.J.) picked up two crucial strikeouts to keep the Lions off the board.

In the bottom of the second, Levins led Philadelphia off with a solo home run before sophomore Courtney Wensel (Bechtelsville, Pa.) stole home to put the Rams up 2-0. They would send five more runs across the plate in the bottom of the third, exploding to a 7-0 lead.

The Lions were able to get on the board in the top of the fourth, as junior Sarah Rambo (Eagleville, Pa.) led off with a single to left field. The first baseman was brought home on a single from junior Christina Heyer (Brooklyn, N.Y.).

Philadelphia would add two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run home run by sophomore Stephanie Pepper (Toms River, N.J.) to go up by eight runs. Senior Ashley Fedor (Monroe, Conn.) reached third base in the top of the fifth for Molloy, but the Lions were unable to drive her in and fell 9-1 in five innings via the run rule.

The team will be back in action on Sunday (Mar. 26) as they head to Georgian Court for a doubleheader set to begin at 1:00 p.m.