Florence, S.C. – The softball team ended the opening weekend at the Patriot Invitational with losses to both Francis Marion, 8-2, and Kutztown, 7-4. Molloy falls to 0-4 on the season while Francis Marion improved to 8-2 and Kutztown improved to 6-1.
 
Game One: Francis Marion 8, Molloy 2
How it Happened

• The Patriots went to work on a two out rally in the bottom of the first inning. A walk and a single set the stage for a bases-clearing triple for Peyton Gale before a Katie Smith single down the left field line gave the home team a 3-0 lead.
• Molloy would get on the board in the top of the fourth inning. Sophomore Cheralyn Dusharme hit a double to left center field before being driven in on an outfield single from freshman Stevie Dabbadie.
• Francis Marion took advantage of defensive miscues in the bottom half of the inning, plating five runs on three hits to lead, 8-1.
• Graduate student Steph Conrade had a well-placed single down the right field line in the top of the fifth and would score following a triple from junior Natalie Moussa to bring Molloy within six.
• A lead off double from graduate student Alex Burns would be the lone base runner for the Lions in the final two innings.

Top Performances

• Conrade, Moussa, Dusharme, Dabbadie, sophomore Emily McGurk and senior Chrissie Huhn each recorded hits in the effort.
• Moussa threw 3.1 innings in relief, striking out one. Dabbadie made her collegiate debut in the circle, also in relief, and allowed one hit and struck out two through two innings of work.

Game Two: Kutztown 7, Molloy 4
How it Happened

• `Kutztown would take a 2-0 lead after the first inning following a triple from Emily Henn and a double from Morgan Slomkowski.
• The Lions went to work in the third inning with singles from Huhn and Conrade. The pair each swiped a bag to put runners on second and third for junior Katie Hand, who sent a single through the right side to plate both runs and knot the contest.
• A lead off double set Alexa Stevens up for a two-run home run to regain the two-run advantage for the Bears.
• The bases were loaded in the top of the fifth following singles from sophomore Mae Savage and freshman Amaya Page and Huhn being hit by a pitch.
• Conrade put a bunt down for a fielder's choice, but Savage was able to beat the throw home to cut the deficit to just one, 4-3.
• Kutztown would break open the scoring in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs on four hits and taking advantage of two errors by the Lions to go in front, 7-3.
• Singles from Page and Huhn got things started in the top of the seventh before freshman Mariah Cepeda reached on a fielder's choice.
• Huhn stole home on a double steal to round out Molloy's scoring.

Top Performances

• Huhn, Hand, and Page each went 2-for-3 on the afternoon with Conrade and Savage each adding hits.
• Huhn stole two bags while Conrade added one.
• Freshman Sophia Mariottini tossed 5.2 innings in the loss, striking out three and allowing just four earned runs on 12 hits.
• Dabbadie added a strikeout in a third of an inning of relief.

Up Next
The road doesn't get easier for the cardinal and white as they take on #12 East Stroudsburg at home on Mar. 3 at 2:00 p.m.