ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Freshman pitcher Megan Butterworth (North Bellmore, N.Y.) struck out a game-high eight batters on Thursday afternoon, but it wasn’t enough as the Molloy College softball team fell by a final score of 4-0 to top-ranked North Georgia College and State University in the first round of the NCAA Division II College World Series at Heritage Park in St. Joseph, Mo. The Lions will now face the loser of the 2 p.m. game between Bloomsburg University and Valdosta State University on Saturday in an elimination game at noon.

After Molloy stranded two runners in scoring position during the top of the first, North Georgia made them pay as senior second baseman Laura Voyles (Powder Springs, Calif.) led off its half of the frame with a solo homer to left-center field. That gave the Saints an early 1-0 lead. Three innings later, senior outfielder Courtney McGuire (Atlanta, Ga.) went deep to right for another solo shot, which gave North Georgia a 2-0 cushion.

The Lions had a chance to put some runs on the scoreboard again in the sixth inning. Freshman outfielder Jeana Frey (Island Park, N.Y.) slapped a one-out double to right field. But, sophomore first baseman Carla Campagna (Floral Park, N.Y.) and freshman third baseman Haley Calderwood (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) were unable to drive her in. The Saints tacked on a pair of insurance runs in Bottom-6, which secured the victory.

In addition to her eight strikeouts, Butterworth pitched 5.1 innings of six-hit, four-run, one-walk ball. Junior right-hander Sarah Phillips (Powell, Ohio) earned the victory for the Saints. She threw a complete game, and yielded three hits and two walks, while fanning six in the process. Frey led the Lions in the hitting department as she was 2-for-3 at the plate. Junior second baseman Alexandra Sydor (Glen Cove, N.Y.) had the other Molloy hit.

-Provided by Molloy Sports Information department.