Syracuse, N.Y. - Tournament Most Valuable Player Kelly Schweikert (Rochester, N.Y./Spencerport) went 2-for-4 with a run batted in to lead #16-ranked Le Moyne College to its second consecutive Northeast-10 Conference softball Championship with a 3-0 win over Southern Connecticut State on Sunday afternoon at the Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex.

The Dolphins opened the scoring in the third inning with two runs on three hits. All-Championship team selection Kelcie Cashel (Lacona, N.Y./Sandy Creek) led off the inning with a single to left field. After a sac bunt pushed Cashel to second, Schweikert singled down the left field line to drive in Cashel with the only run the Dolphins would need. Following a fielder's choice and a groundout, freshman shortstop Barb Shea (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) singled up the middle to plate Schweikert from third.

Le Moyne added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning as freshman first baseman Leah Ford (Pulaski, N.Y./Pulaski) blasted her fourth home run of the season over the fence in right field.

The Owls loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh a pair of singles around a walk. However, Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year Jennifer Farrelly (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) worked out of the jam by inducing a pop out to Ford in foul territory.

Farrelly struck out seven batters, while yielding seven hits, in going the distance for her team-best 16th time, while also recording her eighth shutout of the season.

Schweikert and Cashel were joined on the All-Championship team by sophomore pitcher Jenna Vanacore (Hicksville, N.Y./Holy Trinity). Schweikert went 8-for-15 (.533) with two doubles, two home runs, six runs batted in and four runs scored in Le Moyne's four tournament victories. Cashel hit .500 (7-for-14) in the tournament with a home run, three runs batted in and six runs scored, while Vanacore struck out 15 batters over 17 scoreless innings, while yielding just five hits, to pick up three victories.

Le Moyne (40-10), which reached the 40-win plateau for the second straight season and fourth time in the program's history, has won its last nine games and 17 of its last 18 contests. The Dolphins, who receive the Northeast-10's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament with the victory, will now await word on where they will be seeded.


NE-10 All-Championship Team
Kelly Schweikert - Le Moyne (MVP)
Kelcie Cashel - Le Moyne
Jenna Vanacore - Le Moyne
Jayme Larson - Southern Connecticut
Kerry Iacomini - Southern Connecticut
Nicole Downs - New Haven
Jill Gagnon - Merrimack
Kelsey Griffin - Southern New Hampshire
Christina Pane - Pace
Marissa Palumbo - Assumption
DeAnna Zanetti - American International