Syracuse, N.Y. - Junior second baseman Kelly Schweikert (Rochester, N.Y./Spencerport) hit a two-run home run and sophomore pitcher Jenna Vanacore (Hicksville, N.Y./Holy Trinity) tossed a three-hitter to lead the 16th-ranked Le Moyne College softball team to a 2-0 victory over Assumption in the opening round of the Northeast-10 Conference tournament on Wednesday afternoon at the Niland Athletic Complex.
The Dolphins, ranked 16th in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll and first in the NCAA East Region rankings, scored the only runs they would need on two hits in the first inning. Freshman designated player Kelcie Cashel (Lacona, N.Y./Sandy Creek) led off the bottom of the frame with a single through the left side. Following a sac bunt by junior center fielder Danielle VanGorder (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal), Schweikert connected on a 1-2 pitch for her seventh home run of the season.
Vanacore, who pitched around doubles by Bernadette Fuentes in the first and fourth innings and a one-out single by Ashley Bilodeau in the seventh, did not allow a runner to advance to third base in picking up her eighth shutout of the season. Vanacore struck out 10 batters in the contest, reaching double-digits for the fifth time on the year.
Le Moyne (37-10), which has won 14 of its last 15 games, will host the four-team, double-elimination tournament on Saturday and Sunday. The Dolphins will play fourth-seeded Merrimack on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. at the Niland Athletic Complex.
Northeast-10 Conference Tournament
April 29
At Campus Sites
Game 1: #1 Le Moyne 2, #8 Assumption 0
Game 2: #2 New Haven 5, #7 American Int'l 2
Game 3: #3 So. Connecticut 2, #6 Pace 1
Game 4: #4 Merrimack 1, #5 SNHU 0
Double Elimination for Remainder of Tournament
Host: Le Moyne College
May 2
Game 5: #1 Le Moyne vs. #4 Merrimack
Game 6: #2 New Haven vs. #3 So. Connecticut
Game 7: Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser
Game 8: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
May 3
Game 9: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser
Game 10: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner
Game 11: If Necessary
