ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. - - Molloy used the long ball, one late in game one and one early in game two, to sweep the Wilmington University softball team, 4-2 and 5-3, on Sunday afternoon at Bob Klein Field.
GAME 1:
Molly Dill was dealing in the first six innings, as a pitcher's duel broke out in the opening game.
Molloy scored in the bottom of the third after a leadoff single set the wheels in motion. Now with two outs and a runner on third, Molloy got a two-out single from pitcher Courtney Greene to break the ice, 1-0.
The offense didn't get going until the sixth, when Haley Downin started the inning with a leadoff single. Now with runners on second and third and only one out, Annie Davila reached on a fielder's choice, chasing Haley Downin home to tie the game, 1-1.
Alyssa Velasquez then hit a fly ball to center, deep enough to score pinch runner Danielle Hess to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead.
The Wildcats went to the bottom of the seventh with the lead, but Molloy started a rally with a leadoff walk. Dill caught a liner back to the circle for the first out, but her throw to first to try and get the double play got away, sending the tying run to second. A single then tied the game, 2-2.
Alexandra Ballester replaced Dill in the circle, but Greene promptly ended the game with a two-run blast to right center, taking game one, 4-2.
Haley Downin, Lauren Lopez, Annie Davila, and Kiersten Comer all had one hit, with Davila and Velasquez with RBIs.
Dill took the tough luck loss, throwing 6.1 innings while allowing three runs on eight hits, striking out three batters.
GAME 2:
Molloy jumped out to an early lead in the nightcap, as Grace Rende hit a one-out, three-run blast to left in the bottom of the second.
The Wildcats answered in the top of the third inning, as Haley Downin singled and Sara Miller chased her home with a one-out double to center. Now with runners on first and third, Jessica Ahearn singled to right, cutting the gap to 3-2. But the Wildcats left two on in the inning, unable to tie the game.
Molloy widened the gap back out in the bottom of the third, scoring on a first and third play to take a 4-2 lead. Another two-out single brought in another run, giving the home team the 5-2 lead.
The Wildcats hit into double plays in the fifth and sixth innings, but Haley Downin was able to keep the Lions in check the rest of the way.
With two outs and the bases empty in the seventh, Haley Downin single to right to keep hopes alive Sara Miller followed with a triple to right center, bringing the tying run to the plate. But Lopez grounded out to third to end the contest.
Miller batted 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, and two RBI. Haley Downin went 2-for-4 at the plate and the final 3.2 innings in the circle without allowing a run, striking out six while only walking one.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats return home on Tuesday when they welcome CACC undefeated Georgian Court to Asbury Field for a doubleheader. The first pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.