Fresh off a trip to the East Coast Conference Championship Game, the softball team is back in action and looking to get in position to clinch an NCAA East Regional berth. Molloy is coming off a 2022 season where they finished with a 24-33 overall record and 10-14 in ECC play. While the Lions showed flashes during the regular season, they put it together in the ECC Tournament, winning two games that included a 4-1 semifinal upset over top-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas. The cardinal and white ultimately fell 2-0 in the championship game to the second-seeded University of Bridgeport.

However, with historical championship contender Bridgeport now in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, Molloy will look to take back the ECC crown for the first time since 2016. They will attempt to do so with a veteran-heavy squad that returns eight upperclassmen and losing just two starters from the 2022 roster. Head Coach Susan Cassidy-Lyke returns to lead the charge in her 18^th season, and also brings in four freshmen and one transfer to round out the roster.

Around the Infield
The Lions bring an experienced corner infield duo back into the fold for the 2023 season to go with a talented young infield tandem. Junior Chrissie Huhn returns to man the hot corner fresh off a season in which she hit .366 in 36 games and received ECC All-Second Team honors. Junior Katie Hand is expected to start at first base after missing half of the 2022 season. Now fully back into the fold, the East Meadow native should provide another power bat in the Molloy lineup.
While the middle infield does not have as much experience, freshmen Emily McGurk and Mae Savage are a combo that excites Coach Cassidy-Lyke entering the season. McGurk gives the cardinal and white a great defensive option at shortstop. Hailing from Babylon, the first-year infielder received All-State and All-Long Island honors as a senior in high school and was named league Player of the Year as well. Coming all the way from San Diego, California, Savage is expected to slot in at second base to kick off her collegiate career. Senior Karsyn Eaton provides the Lions an additional veteran presence in the infield after hitting .323 a year ago.

In the Outfield
Molloy's outfield for the upcoming season is an extremely talented group that boasts both experience and plenty of accolades. The outfield will be anchored by senior Steph Conrade and graduate student Alex Burns, both of which made the All-ECC First Team in 2022. Conrade led the Lions in hitting a year ago at .414 and was a weapon on base paths, swiping 38 bases in 42 attempts. Her dual threat as a slapper paired with blazing speed makes the senior a force to be reckoned with once again coming into the season.
Burns on the other hand provides more power in the box after finishing second on the team with seven home runs and third in batting average at .354 last year. The combo of Burns and Conrade, along with fellow senior Emma Bachman, should rank among the best outfield groups the region has to offer.

In the Circle
The departure of Courtney Greene leaves some big shoes to fill, but the duo of returning graduate student Amanda King and junior transfer Brianna Macias will give the Lions plenty of collegiate softball experience in the circle. King, a true utility pitcher, returns to the fold after posting a 4.95 ERA and 13 wins in 169 innings last season. The right-hander is also a presence at the plate, coming off a year where she hit .292 with 6 home runs and 32 runs batted in.
Macias enters the program after two seasons at Lindenwood University, where she posted a 3-1 record with a 3.35 ERA in 14 total appearances. Now stepping into a bigger role with the Lions, the sophomore will be relied on as one of Coach Cassidy-Lyke's main pitching options. Sophomore Natalie Moussa will also see some innings this spring after making 10 appearances her freshman season and adjusting to the collegiate level of play.

Looking Ahead
The Lions were picked tied for second in the ECC preseason poll with D'Youville, who is not eligible for postseason play this spring as they complete their transition from Division III. St. Thomas Aquinas was picked as the conference's preseason favorite.

Molloy opens the 2023 season on February 17 with a doubleheader against Southern New Hampshire University at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. After playing six games in South Carolina, the Lions do not take the field again until March 11 at the PFX Spring games in Clermont, Florida. The cardinal and white open their home slate on March 19 for a doubleheader against Jefferson University at Bob Klein Field. ECC play will kick off on March 21 at home against the College of Staten Island and the regular season will conclude on the road at D'Youville University on April 29. The Lions will look to compete for the ECC Championship beginning May 3.