Rockville Centre, N.Y.- The top-seeded softball team secured a 7-1 victory over defending ECC champions, the second-seeded Spartans of St. Thomas Aquinas. The Lions improve to 30-20, and the Spartans fall to 30-22.
 
How it Happened

• The visiting Lions started the first inning with a walk to senior Chrissie Huhn before a sacrifice bunt from graduate student Steph Conrade moved her into scoring position.
• Freshman Stevie Dabbadie doubled to right center to plate the first run of the game.
• A leadoff homerun to left field from junior Cheralyn Dusharme doubled the score, 2-0, in the top of the second inning.
• The Lions started the top of the fourth frame with a walk to Dusharme followed by a single to the short stop from sophomore Mae Savage to set the stage for a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Emily McGurk, advancing the runners.
• Graduate student Emma Bachman singled to right field to plate freshman pinch runner Kiara Gaghan, giving Molloy a 3-0 lead.
• St. Thomas Aquinas would respond with a leadoff homerun to left field from Eliana Raposo, cutting the deficit to two, 3-1, in the bottom of the fourth
• A double to right field from Dusharme would start a rally for the Lions in the top of the sixth.
• Savage singled to center field, with both runners advancing on the throw before a single to center field from freshman Sophia Mariottini would drive in Dusharme to extend the lead, 4-1.
• A sacrifice bunt from Bachman and Huhn's single to right field would score two more.
• A single to left center from graduate student Alex Burns would tack on one more run, giving Molloy a commanding 7-1 lead.
• Mariottini held the Spartans to one hit through the last two innings to secure the cardinal and white the win.

Top Performances

• Dusharme hit her second home run of the season.
• Burns and Dabbadie each went 2-for-4, with both driving in one run.
• Mariottini pitched a complete game, fanning six batters and allowing just one earned run on four hits.
• Dusharme and Savage both contributed two hits.
• Huhn led with two RBI.
• Bachman stole one base.

Up Next
The top-seeded Lions will head straight to the finals in Saturday's (May 4) ECC Championship game at 12:00 p.m. Molloy will await the winner of today's two elimination games.