The St. Thomas Aquinas Softball team dropped a pair of ECC contests to Molloy College, 3-0 and 7-1 on Sunday afternoon at Spartan Field in Sparkill, NY. STAC falls to 20-6 overall, with a 14-4 ECC mark, while Molloy now stands at 18-12, 6-6.
Prior to the twin bill between the Spartans and the Lions, the team recognized their five seniors; Elise Oliande, Missy Sadler, Paige Toothaker, Amanda Schweitzer and Morgan Santora for their contributions to the STAC Softball program during their time at the college.
In game one action, Molloy quickly jumped on the scoreboard with a 2-out, 2-run homer to right center field by starting pitcher Chelsea Green in the top of the first inning to make it 2-0. Chrissie Huhn helped the Lions tack on a third run in the top of the seventh inning, with an RBI double to right center field, scoring teammate Emma Bachman to close the scoring at 3-0.
The Spartans were stymied by the outstanding pitching of the aforementioned Green, as she tossed a complete-game one-hitter, while also walking one and striking out four. The lone STAC hit came via an Amanda Castro double down the left field line in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Carissa Della Vecchia picked up the hard-luck loss for St. Thomas Aquinas, as she pitched seven innings, surrendering eight hits and three runs, while walking three and striking out eight.
Game two action saw St. Thomas Aquinas take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, as Sarah Williams would stroke a 1-out, RBI single up the middle, scoring Amanda Castro. However, the lead would be short-lived, as a Chelsea Green RBI single to center field, scoring Chrissie Huhn, would tie things up at one in the top of the third inning. A fourth inning Grace Rende 2-RBI single, scoring Akemi Poyer and Amanda King, would break the tie and put Molloy ahead 3-1. In the fifth inning, King would hit a solo home run to left center field to extend the Lions lead to 4-1. A sixth inning double steal of second and home by Huhn and Emma Bachman would push the Molloy lead to 5-1, before a Karsyn Eaton RBI single to right center field, scoring Chrissie Huhn and a Green RBI double to center field plating Eaton, would give the visitors from Rockville Centre the 7-1 victory.
STAC would pick up six hits in the contest, with Amanda Schweitzer and Sarah Williams each going 2-for-3. Nikki MacDonald and Tara Hagan each singled in game two. Starting pitcher Paige Toothaker would take the loss, hurling seven innings and surrendering 13 hits and seven runs (six earned), while walking none and striking out six.
Molloy's Chelsea Green would return to the circle for game two and throw another complete-game, this time giving up six hits and a run, while walking two and fanning four. Green would throw 197 total pitches between both games of the doubleheader.
St. Thomas Aquinas returns to action on Tuesday, April 27 for another pivotal ECC doubleheader, this time at the University of Bridgeport. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2:30pm, with game two to follow at approximately 4:30pm.