Rockville Centre, N.Y. - The 2023 softball season concluded this afternoon as the top-seeded Lions fell to the second-seeded Spartans of Saint Thomas Aquinas College, 8-3, in the East Coast Conference Championship. Molloy ends the campaign 31-21, marking the eighth season of 30 or more wins for head coach Susan Cassidy-Lyke.

How it Happened

• The Spartans, the home team on the scoreboard as a result of a coin flip, had runners on first and third for Emilee Olivier, who put her team in front 3-0 with a shot over the left field fence in the first inning. A double to right center field from Tara Hagan put the Spartans ahead by four.
• Lead off singles to freshmen Mae Savage and Emily McGurk paired with a sacrifice bunt from senior Steph Conrade allowed junior Chrissie Huhn to cut the deficit in half in the third inning with a single to center field.
• Deana DeCaro's ground out in the bottom half of the inning put STAC back in front by three, 5-2.
• Huhn once again was the spark for the Lions' offense, plating McGurk with a double to right to make it a two-run ball game.
• Carissa Della Vecchia got her team out of a jam by striking out the next three batters to preserve the Spartans' lead.
• A double and a walk set the table for a second three-run homer for STAC, this time off the bat of DeCaro to put them ahead by five, 8-3, after five innings.
• Sophomore Natalie Moussa recorded the lone hit for Molloy in the final two innings.
• Huhn went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two doubles to lead the offense.
• Conrade, Moussa, Savage, and McGurk accounted for the remaining hits for Molloy.

For the latest news and updates regarding Molloy Athletics, visit www.molloylions.com. Keep up with the softball team by following the team's Instagram account @Molloy_Softball.