NO. 25 SOFTBALL TAKES FIRST GAME OF NCAA TOURNAMENT OVER ADELPHI, 2-0

Box Score vs. Adelphi - May 4, 2012

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (May. 4, 2012) - The No. 25 and second-seeded Molloy College softball team won its first game of the NCAA Division II East Sub-Regional on Friday, with a 2-0 triumph over seventh-seeded Adelphi University at the C.W. Post Softball Complex in Brookville, N.Y. The Lions now advance to the winners’ bracket on Saturday, and will square off against sixth-seeded Dominican College at 11 a.m.

Junior pitcher Kelley Jansen (Long Beach, N.Y.) pitched for the Lions, squaring off against Adelphi’s Devon Kelly (Baldwin, N.Y.). Jansen struck out 10 batters on the day, while Kelly struck out three Molloy batters.

Jansen retired the side in order in the first inning. As the Lions stepped up in their half of the second, freshman Brenda Lee (Corona, Calif.) connected for a single to left field as the lead-off batter. Senior Josette Cavallaro (North Babylon, N.Y.) followed that up by bunting into a fielder’s choice, and Lee reached second safely on an error. Sophomore Lauren Alexander (Huntington, N.Y.) then laid down a perfect bunt, sacrificing Lee and Cavallaro over to third and second, respectively.

An odd wild pitch from Kelly then allowed Lee to cross home plate, giving Molloy a 1-0 lead. The next two and a half innings were uneventful, as Adelphi connected for just two hits, and the Lions scattered three without rallying to score.

In Molloy’s half of the fifth inning, senior Carla Campagna (Floral Park, N.Y.) smacked her 11th home run of the season over the left-centerfield fence, handing the Lions a 2-0 advantage and the eventual game-winning score.

Jansen and the Lions retired the side in order in three different innings throughout the game. In the top of the seventh, Jansen struck out two batters, including the last batter of the game, to secure the victory for Molloy. She picked up her 24th win of the year in the process.

Campagna went 2-for-2 on the day with a homer. Senior Megan Hutnick (Lancaster, Calif.) also had a good day at the plate, hitting 2-for-3. The win improves Molloy’s record to 43-10, tying the program record for most victories in a season. The Panthers slipped to 34-19-1, and will square off in the loser’s bracket against C.W. Post on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

Molloy takes on Dominican College on Saturday at 11 a.m. If the Lions win, they advance straight to the sub-regional final on Sunday. If they do not, they will play another game at 4 p.m., and fight for a chance to advance to Sunday’s final.