Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Feb. 16, 2018) – The No. 17 Molloy softball team had a strong start to the 2018 season, sweeping the opening day of the Snowbird Freeze Out Tournament. Junior pitcher Jenna Turato picked up two victories while senior Bernadette Mullane and freshman Courtney Greene each hit their first collegiate home runs in the effort.
 
Game One: Molloy 3, East Stroudsburg 1
The maroon and white struck first as Mullane led off the second inning with a single up the middle before senior Sarah Rambo advanced her to second. Molloy took advantage of misplays from the Warriors, as the bases were loaded following freshman Sarah Glaser hitting into a fielder's choice and Mullane scoring on a throwing error.

East Stroudsburg knotted the score with a leadoff home run in the third inning, but Mullane countered with a shot that left the yard in the bottom of the fourth to make it 2-1.

A single from senior Brianna Dalton added an insurance run in senior Olivia Banulski with a single in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Mullane led the offense, going 2-of-3 at the dish while Turato struck out two, allowing one run on four hits, in the circle.

Game Two: Molloy 7, Lock Haven 5
The Lions once again took an early lead, as Mullane and freshman Jaclyn Rodriguez reached base safely to start the second inning. The senior scored following an error by Lock Haven's second baseman to go up, 1-0.
A single from sophomore Mikaela Tribby set the stage for a two-run blast from Greene to give Molloy a 3-0 lead after three innings of play.

The Bald Eagles got on the board following a home run to lead off the fourth inning. The maroon and white added two runs in the fifth on a ground out from Greene and a single from Mullane. An RBI single from Lock Haven in the bottom half of the inning set the score at 5-2.

In the bottom of the seventh, Lock Haven drove in three runs to tie the game. With two outs, Tuarto entered the game in relief, forcing a pop up to end the inning and force extra innings.

With the International Tie Breaker Rule in effect, the Lions began the top of the eighth inning with Rodriguez on second. The third baseman advanced to third following a sacrifice bunt from senior catcher Alexandra Russo. Senior Chrissy Heyer singled to left field to drive in Rodriguez, breaking the tie. The Lions added an insurance run on an RBI double from Banulski.

Turato forced two pop ups while adding a strike out in the bottom half of the inning to earn her second victory of the day.

Banulski went 4-4 for Molloy while Greene led with three RBIs. In her debut for the maroon and white, freshman Tonianne Larson fanned two batters, allowing six hits through 6.2 innings of work for a no decision.

The team returns to the field tomorrow as the Lions face Concord University at 10:00 a.m. before facing the University of New Haven at 2:00 p.m.