Syracuse, N.Y. - Alyssa Pagano went 3-for-6 with a two-run double to lead Southern Connecticut State to a doubleheader sweep of the Le Moyne College softball team in Northeast-10 Conference action on Wednesday afternoon at the Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex. The Owls edged the Dolphins in game one, 1-0, and registered a 3-1 victory in the nightcap.
Southern Connecticut State scored the only run of the first game on a pair of hits. Pagano led off the frame with a double to center field. After a groundout moved Pagano to third base, Kristle Lee singled through the left side to drive in Pagano.
The Dolphins, who were swept at home in a conference doubleheader for the first time since April 20, 2000 against Merrimack, put a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the frame, but could not score the tying run.
Senior Jennifer Farrelly (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) registered a career-best 13 strikeouts in suffering the loss, yielding just three hits. The 13 strikeouts are the most by a Dolphin pitcher since Sarah Reed '08 recorded 13 in a 4-0 victory at Dowling on March 19, 2006. Amanda Pindar picked up the win, tossing five and one-third innings, allowing three hits. Jayme Larson earned the save by retiring all five batters she faced, including three by strikeout.
In game two, the Owls posted two runs on two hits in the top of the third inning. Megan Caporossi doubled to left center to lead off the inning. Following a failed sacrifice bunt and a strikeout, Brittany Gandley drew a walk. Pagano followed with a double to right field to knock in both Caporossi and Gandley.
The Dolphins got one run back in the bottom of the inning on a two-out home run to center field by junior second baseman Kelly Schweikert (Rochester, N.Y./Spencerport).
Southern Connecticut State tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning on a walk and a hit. Caporossi walked with one out and stole second following a fly out. Christina Wolf then singled to right field to give the Owls a two run lead.
Sophomore Jenna Vanacore (Hicksville, N.Y./Holy Trinity) dropped her second game of the season, going all seven innings and allowing three runs on six hits, while striking out eight batters. Larson earned her ninth win of the season after allowing just one run on two hits in four innings. Kerry Iacomini tossed the final two innings to record the save.
Le Moyne (23-9, NE-10 11-3), which had its seven-game winning streak snapped, returns to the diamond on Thursday at American International at 3:30 p.m.
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