BROOKHAVEN, N.Y. – Tied up at 3-3 in the top of the fifth on Sunday afternoon, freshman third baseman Haley Calderwood (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) put the No. 6 seed Molloy College softball team ahead for good with a double down the left-field line, which brought in freshman outfielder Jeana Frey (Island Park, N.Y.) from second base. As a result, the Lions defeated second-seeded and 20th-ranked Dowling College, 4-3, in the NCAA Division II East Sub-Regional Final at Golden Lions’ Field in Brookhaven, N.Y.

Dowling staked itself to an early 1-0 advantage after one inning of play as freshman infielder Stephanie Tarango (Fontana, Calif.) took a 2-2 delivery from freshman lefty Megan Butterworth (North Bellmore, N.Y.) beyond the left-field wall. But, Molloy (41-18) answered right back in Top-2 to tie the game at 1-1. Junior second baseman Alexandra Sydor (Glen Cove, N.Y.) batted a ball into center, which plated sophomore shortstop Josette Cavallaro (North Babylon, N.Y.), who originally reached base via a one-out double to left field.

Then, in the ensuing stanza, the Lions got their first lead of the contest as they pushed across a pair of runs for a 3-1 lead. With two on and one down, sophomore first baseman Carla Campagna (Floral Park, N.Y.) put one into center field, which combined with a miscue from sophomore outfielder Krystil Hoffman (Glendale, N.Y.), scored Butterworth and freshman outfielder Jeana Frey (Island Park, N.Y.). However, the Golden Lions (44-17) came right back with two runs of their own in the latter of the third to deadlock the contest once again (3-3).

Freshman right-hander Kelley Jansen (Long Beach, N.Y.) picked up the victory in the decision. She pitched four relief innings of shutout ball with one strikeout. Butterworth made the start, and scattered four hits, three runs and three walks, while fanning three during 3.0 innings of work. Sophomore hurler Jessie Stavola (Montauk, N.Y.) was saddled with the defeat. In 4.1 innings, she gave up seven hits, four runs (three earned) and one walk.

“It was great to see everyone pick each other up today in such a vital first game,” stated fifth-year Head Coach Susan Cassidy-Lyke (Hicksville, N.Y.). “As the season started, this was the year that I thought we were going to prove that we belonged in the NCAA Tournament.”

Molloy now awaits the winner of the other East sub-regional between top-seeded University of New Haven and fourth-seeded Southern Connecticut State University, which is slated to get underway from UNH Field at 3 p.m. Information regarding the NCAA Division II East Super Regional will be released as soon as it becomes available.

-Provided by Dowling Sports Information department.