Softball

No. 6 Molloy Upsets Pace, No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas Falls to Wilmington in Opening Day of NCAA Softball East Regional Championship

Brianna Macias tossed a four-hit shutout to lead sixth-seeded Molloy to a 7-0 win over third-seeded Pace and into the winner's bracket on opening day of the 2024 NCAA Softball East Regional Championship. On the other side of the bracket, St. Thomas Aquinas fell to Wilmington in five innings, 10-0. 

Complete Bracket
(6) Molloy 7, (3) Pace 0
Box Score
 

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – The sixth-seeded softball team claimed a 7-0 victory over the third-seeded Setters of Pace University to advance to the winner's bracket of the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament. The Lions improved to 31-22 and the Setters fell to 32-15.

How it Happened

  • After two scoreless innings, senior Chrissie Huhn started the top of the third inning by reaching on an error and stealing second to put herself in scoring position.
  • Graduate student Alex Burns doubled down the left field line to plate the first run for the visiting Lions.
  • Sophomore Mae Savage walked in the top of the fourth inning before a triple to right field for fellow sophomore Emily McGurk doubled the score.
  • Freshman Amaya Page entered in a pinch hit opportunity, singling to third base to put runners at second and third. 
  • An RBI double through the left side from Huhn extended the Lions' lead to 3-0.
  • A double up the middle from Burns coupled with a single to right field from freshman Stevie Dabbadie gave the cardinal and white a commanding 6-0 lead after the fourth inning.
  • In the sixth inning, Burns tripled to center field before an RBI single from Dabbadie rounded out the scoring. 
  • Senior Brianna Macias held the Setters to just one hit in the final two innings to clinch the 7-0 victory.

Top Performances

  • Macias threw her first shut out of the season, striking out four batters and conceding just four hits, to improve to a 4-4 record.
  • Burns and Dabbadie each went 3-for-4, driving in a combined five runs.
  • McGurk recorded two hits and plated one run.
  • Senior Katie Hand, Huhn, Page, and Mariottini all contributed one hit.

Up Next

The sixth-seeded Lions move onto the winner's bracket and face off against the second-seeded Adelphi Panthers at 10:00 a.m. in Garden City, N.Y.

Recap courtesy of Molloy University Sports Information

(1) Wilmington 10, (8) St. Thomas Aquinas 0 (5 innings)
Box Score

WILMINGTON, Del. – Behind Delani Sheehan's two-hit pitching, Wilmington University opened defense of its NCAA East Regionchampionship with a 10-0 win today over St. Thomas Aquinas College at Asbury Field.

The top-seeded and nationally ranked Wildcats (41-14) advanced to the second round to meet fourth-seeded Assumption University (24-14), which clipped St. Anselm College, 4-3, in today's other opening round matchup. Tomorrow's Wilmington-Assumption game is scheduled at 10 a.m. with the STAC-St. Anselm (25-23) game slated to start at 12:30 pm. STAC will need to defeat St. Anselm and then win the 4 p.m. game to advance to Saturday's championship round of the four-team, double-elimination tourney.

The Wildcats, currently ranked 17th nationally and seeking to compete in the NCAA Division II National Championship tourney for the second straight year, scored in each of the first three innings and then rode Sheehan's pitching to victory.

Taylor Gillis' three-run homer and Sam Freeland's two hits, two RBI and a stolen base led the winning attack.

STAC, which fell to 33-23, got hits from freshmen Jessica Feerick and Olivia Leon.

Recap courtesy of St. Thomas Aquinas College Sports Information