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NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Molloy College softball team scored four runs in the top of the 15th inning to claim a 7-3 win over Southern Connecticut State University in a NCAA East Super Regional contest on Friday afternoon.

With the win, Molloy improves to 47-11 and needs just one more win to advance to the College World Series. SCSU drops to 40-11 and now must sweep the Lions tomorrow to punch its ticket to the College World Series.

It was a game with many twists and turns to say the least. Molloy struck for four runs in the top of the 15th for the final margin of the victory. After a fielders' choice by Josette Cavallaro plated a run to make it 4-3, Lauren Alexander followed with a three-run home run for the Lions.

The events leading up to the 15th were filled with plenty of drama. Molloy scored a run in the top of the first on three singles before the Owls tied it in the second on a solo home run from Jessica Rosa (Wallingford, Conn.).

Molloy took a 2-1 lead in the fifth on two singles and an error. Southern Connecticut tied the score in the bottom of the sixth when Stacy Pouliot (Mystic, Conn.) and Julie Muscarella (Suffield, Conn.) connected for back-to-back doubles, the latter of which scored pinch runner Sarah Koerner (Coventry, R.I.).

SCSU had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh. Brittany Bucko (Wallington, N.J.) walked, stole second and went to third on a throwing error. Kristin Whitley (North Andover, Mass.) struck out swinging, but the final strike was a wild pitch. Bucko tried to score from third but was thrown out at the plate.

The Owls nearly won the game in the 10th. Alyssa Downs (Seymour, Conn.) sent a deep drive to center field, but Molloy's Jeana Frey reached over the fence to make the catch and keep the game going. 

The Lions scored a run in the 13th on three more singles to take a 3-2 lead. However, SCSU once again battled back. Whitley singled to open the inning and moved to third on a two-out single by Rosa. With two strikes, Pouliot lofted a single to right center field to plate Whitley and even the score once again.

However, Molloy was able to create some distance in the 15th and pick up the win.

The two teams will resume Super Regional action tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the DeWitt Family Field at Yale.