Winning pitcher Courtney Greene drove in the go-ahead run to fuel a three-run sixth inning rally to push Molloy College to a 4-1 win over St. Thomas Aquinas College today in the first game of the East Coast Conference’s best-of-three semifinal softball series at RVC Sports Complex in Rockville Centre, N.Y.
The win gives second-seeded Molloy (29-12) a 1-0 edge in the best-of-three series, which continues tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the RVC Sports Complex with the third game to follow immediately afterward, if necessary. Third-seeded STAC dropped to 22-11.
Molloy has won all five meetings with STAC this season and Greene was the leading lady again today. Her single to right field broke a 1-1 tie and teammates Marissa Nicoletti and Akemi Poyer followed with run-producing singles. In the circle, Greene continued her mastery over the Lady Spartans. She notched her 19th win and fourth over STAC by scattering five hits and working out of several jams.
STAC knotted the score with a run in the top of the sixth inning with freshmen Tara Hagan and Nikki MacDonald playing key roles. Junior Carissa Della Vecchia pitched well in the loss. She retired the first nine Molloy hitters and finished with seven strikeouts.