ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Apr. 10, 2017) – Graduate student Milan Botte (San Diego, Calif.) drove in two runs to help propel Molloy softball to a sweep of LIU Post in a doubleheader, 2-1 and 3-2. The Lions now sit at 16-12 on the season and improve to 6-4 in league play.

Game One: Molloy 2, LIU Post 1
The game remained scoreless through the first two innings. The Pioneers were first to break the deadlock, driving in the game's first run in the third inning on a double to center field by Julia Seader (Piscataway, N.J.). Molloy responded in the bottom half of the inning, as sophomore Kaitlyn Snyder (Smithtown, N.Y.) scored on an error by the LIU Post third baseman. The maroon and white added an insurance run with a double by Botte to score senior Ashley Fedor (Monroe, Conn.).

Led by four strikeouts in the final four innings from senior Chelsea Hawks (Wading River, N.Y.), the Lions carried the one-run lead through the top of the seventh inning to earn the 2-1 victory. In total, Hawks gave up one run on seven hits while picking up seven strikeouts to improve to 8-7 on the season. Botte, juniors Tiana DeOliveira (Mastic, N.Y.) and Brianna Dalton (Northampton, Pa.) and senior Erin Clinton (Long Beach, Calif.) each registered hits in the effort.

Game Two: Molloy 3, LIU Post 1
The second contest began similarly to the first, as the teams found themselves scoreless through the first three innings. Once again, The Pioneers jumped out to a 2-0 lead, this time on back-to-back home runs from Seader and Abbey Fortin (Langley, British Columbia, Canada). Sophomore Jenna Turato (Garden City South, N.Y.)entered the contest in relief, recording two quick outs to limit LIU Post to the two runs.

In the bottom half of the inning, Botte sent a ball over the left center field fence to cut the lead in half. The Pioneers were sent down in order in the top of the fifth inning. Junior Sarah Rambo (Eagleville, Pa.) got things started in the bottom of the fifth by drawing a walk. She was brought home as Snyder homered to left field to make it 3-2 in favor of the home team.

LIU Post threatened in the top of the sixth, with Seader reaching on a leadoff double. Turato recorded two key strikeouts to end the inning and keep the run from crossing the plate. The Pioneers would fall in order, including a great catch in foul territory by Fedor to close the contest.

Botte, Snyder and Clinton each recorded hits for Molloy, with Snyder leading with two RBIs. Turato pitched 3.2 innings in relief, surrendering two hits while striking out three batters.