Syracuse, N.Y. - Diana Sansevera struck out seven batters and allowed just four hits to lead #20 Georgian Court to a 4-1 win over the 12th-ranked Le Moyne College softball team on Friday afternoon in the opening game of the NCAA East Super Regional at the Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex. With the victory, Georgian Court takes a 1-0 lead in the best-of-3 series.

The Lions got on the board in the second inning with a pair of runs on just one hit. Kelsey Cutler was hit by a pitch to open the inning and Jessica Comiskey followed by drawing a walk. After a sacrifice bunt moved Cutler and Comiskey up a base, Sammie Jo Garafalo pushed a bunt single to the right side of the infield to plate Cutler, while Comiskey crossed the plate as Garafalo got caught between first and second base.

In the third inning, All-Region outfielder Mallory Kirchner opened the frame with a double to center field. Following a pop out, Courtney Cuevas blasted a 2-2 pitch to straightaway center field for a two-run homer to give the Lions a 4-0 lead.

Le Moyne got one run back in the bottom of the fourth inning. Junior second baseman Kelly Schweikert (Rochester, N.Y./Spencerport) bunted down the third base line for a single to start the inning and proceeded to steal second base. Freshman shortstop Barb Shea (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) then reached on a fielder's choice to the third baseman and moved to second as Schweikert was thrown out trying to advance to third. Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year Jennifer Farrelly (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) followed with a double to left center to plate Shea from second. Sansevera induced a pair of fly outs to end the rally.

Farrelly suffered the loss in the pitcher's circle for the Dolphins, dropping to 18-5 on the season, after allowing four runs on five hits over two and one-third innings pitched. Sophomore righty Jenna Vanacore (Hicksville, N.Y./Holy Trinity) struck out four batters over the final four and two-thirds innings, while allowing just two hits, to keep the Dolphins within striking distance. Farrelly accounted for two of Le Moyne's four hits, while Schweikert registered one and sophomore catcher Kim Baker (Murrieta, Calif./Murrieta Valley) delivered the other.

Le Moyne (43-11), which had its 12 game win streak snapped, will look to even the best-of-3 series at one apiece on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. against the Lions. If necessary, the deciding game will be played at 1:30 on Saturday afternoon. The winner of the series advances to the NCAA Division II World Series in Salem, Va., which will be held May 21-25.