SYRACUSE, NY – The Le Moyne softball team captured the program's second Northeast-10 Conference Championship on Sunday defeating Bryant in a best-of-three series. Le Moyne, the regular season champion, captured game one 3-2, dropped the second game 11-10 and won the deciding game three 7-3. With the win, the Dolphins earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
In game one, the Dolphins used an effective pitching performance by Tournament Most Valuable Player Sarah Reed to secure the 3-2 victory. The Dolphins struck for two runs in the first on an RBI single by Caitlin O'Neill and a sacrifice fly by Emma Murphy. Following a highlight reel catch by Danielle VanGorder in the top half of the sixth, Reed connected for a home run in the bottom of the inning that proved to be the winning run. Jennifer Farrelly earned the win in relief, holding the Bulldogs scoreless over the final two innings.
The offense's for both teams awoke in game two. Jessica Valentini led the Bulldogs at the plate going 4-for-4 with three home runs and seven RBI. Five Dolphins connected for hits, led by Reed's two home runs and five RBI's. Bryant scored runs in the first five innings of the game en route to the 11-10 victory. Janine Enos earned the win in the circle for Bulldogs.
With both teams having one victory, the tournament championship would be decided in the final game of the day. Bryant struck first with a run in the first inning off an RBI double by Valentini. The Dolphins batted around in the fourth and scratched together four runs on three hits to take a 4-1 lead. Le Moyne added three more runs in the fourth, highlighted by Murphy's two-RBI single. Down 7-1, Bryant added two runs on a Valentini's fourth home run of the afternoon. Freshman Jenna Vanacore closed the door on the Bulldogs, pitching in relief of the winning pitcher Sarah Reed.
Sarah Reed was named the Most Valuable Player of the NE-10 Championship and hit .538 with four home runs, two doubles and seven RBI's over the course of five games. She also earned two victories in the circle.
Several Dolphins were awarded honors in the post game ceremony. Jennifer Farrelly, Danielle VanGorder, Kelly Schweikert and Caitlin O'Neill earned second team all-conference honors. Sarah Reed, Bailey Phillips, Emma Murphy and Jenna Vanacore earned first team honors. Additionally, Reed was named the 2008 Northeast-10 Player of the Year.
Le Moyne is currently 44-9 and ranks second all-time in program history in wins in a season. Additionally, the 27-1 mark is the best conference record in school history.
