May 2, 2009
SB: #16 DOLPHINS ADVANCE TO NORTHEAST-10 CHAMPIONSHIP
GAME WITH 4-0 WIN OVER MERRIMACK AND 12-3 VICTORY OVER NEW
HAVEN
Syracuse, N.Y. - Sophomore all-conference pitcher Jenna
Vanacore (Hicksville, N.Y./Holy Trinity) tossed 10
scoreless innings to lead the 16th-ranked Le Moyne College softball
team to a pair of victories in the Northeast-10 Conference
tournament on Saturday afternoon at the Thomas J. Niland Athletic
Complex. The Dolphins opened the day with a 4-0 win over Merrimack
and posted a 12-3 win over New Haven in the final game of the
afternoon to advance to Sunday's final.
Le Moyne scored the only run it would need against Merrimack in
the first inning on just one hit. Freshman right fielder
Kelcie Cashel (Lacona, N.Y./Sandy Creek) reached
first to lead off the inning after being hit by a pitch. After
Cashel moved to second on a wild pitch and Merrimack recorded a
strikeout, junior all-conference second baseman Kelly
Schweikert (Rochester, N.Y./Spencerport) doubled off the
fence in left field to drive in Cashel.
The Dolphins added a single run in the fourth inning and a pair in
the sixth frame to deliver the final margin of victory. All-Rookie
Team shortstop Barb Shea (Clifton Park,
N.Y./Shenendehowa) was hit by a pitch with one out and
moved to third on a single by senior all-conference selection
Caitlin O'Neill (Pittsford, N.Y./Our Lady of
Mercy). Sophomore catcher Kim Baker (Murrieta,
Calif./Murrieta Valley) followed with a groundout to
second base to push Shea across the plate.
In the sixth, the Dolphins loaded the bases as Shea singled,
O'Neill reached on a fielder's choice and Baker singled. Following
a groundout to retire Shea at home, Cashel singled through the left
side to plate O'Neill and Baker.
Vanacore, named to the Northeast-10 First Team on Friday, struck
out two batters, while yielding just two hits in facing only one
batter over the minimum to pick up her 18th win of the
campaign.
In the afternoon's finale, the Dolphins jumped on the board with
three runs in the first inning. Cashel singled through the left
side and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Schweikert then
drilled her team high-tying eighth home run of the season.
Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year Jennifer
Farrelly (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) followed with a single up
the middle and advanced to second two batters later on a single by
Shea. O'Neill then singled up the middle to drive in her
classmate.
The Chargers got one run back in their half of the first as Nicole
Downs walked and came around to score on a double to left center by
Meghan Walter.
Cashel blasted a one-out home run down the left field line in the
second inning to extend Le Moyne's lead back to two. However, New
Haven answered back in the bottom of the frame with a pair of
unearned runs. Downs, who homered twice in her team's first game of
the day, doubled with two outs to plate Samantha Minervini and Amy
Nepi, who reached on a single and an error respectively.
The Dolphins blew the game open with five runs on six hits in the
fourth inning. Cashel, who four hits and four runs scored on the
day, and junior all-conference center fielder Danielle
VanGorder (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) singled to open the
inning. After Schweikert reached base on a fielder's choice to load
the bases, Farrelly singled up the middle to plate Cashel.
Following a groundout to retire VanGorder at home, Shea singled to
right center to drive in Schweikert and Farrelly. After a fly out,
Baker plated Phillips and Shea with a single to right center to
complete the scoring in the inning.
Le Moyne, which has won 16 of its last 17 games, tacked on three
runs on three hits and an error. Phillips opened the inning with a
single and stole second following a New Haven pitching change.
After Shea reached on a throwing error, O'Neill drilled a home run
down the right field line to give the Dolphins a 12-3
advantage.
Vanacore earned the win in relief by tossing the final three
innings without allowing a hit and striking out three batters.
Farrelly struck out two batters over the first three innings,
yielding three runs (one earned) on four hits. Northeast-10 Pitcher
of the Year Breanne Gleason suffered the loss after allowing 10
runs on 16 hits over five innings.
Le Moyne (39-10), which is appearing in its fourth conference
championship game in the last six years, will face the winner of
Sunday's 10:00 a.m. match-up between Southern Connecticut State and
New Haven at 12:00 p.m. for the NE-10 title and the conference's
automatic berth into next weekend's NCAA Regional.
-agate-
#16 Le Moyne 4, Merrimack 0
Merrimack
(26-18)
000 000
0
-
0
2 1
#16 Le Moyne (38-10)
100 102
X
-
4
8 0
Merrimack (26-18): Jill Gagnon (L, 13-8) and Kara Melillo.
Le Moyne (38-10): Jenna Vanacore (W, 18-3) and Kim
Baker.
#16 Le Moyne 12, New Haven 3 (6 innings)
#16 Le Moyne (39-10)
310 503
-
12
18 1
New Haven (32-15)
120 000
-
3
4 1
Le Moyne (39-10): Jennifer Farrelly, Jenna Vanacore (4, W, 19-3)
and Kim Baker.
New Haven (32-15): Breanne Gleason (L, 29-14), Courtney Creedon
(6) and Allison Vaughan.



















