Syracuse, N.Y. – Senior second baseman Kelly Schweikert (Rochester, N.Y./Spencerport) singled home the game-winning run in game one to lead the Le Moyne College softball team to a split of a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader with American International on Friday afternoon at the Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex. The Dolphins took the opening game, 4-3, before falling, 7-1, in the nightcap.
Le Moyne scored one run on one hit in the second inning to take an early lead. Sophomore catcher Morgan Edmondson (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) led off the frame with a single. After moving to second on a sac bunt and advancing to third on a wild pitch, Edmondson scored on a foul ball down the right field line by freshman left fielder Demetra Kermidas (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley).
The Yellow Jackets responded in the top of the third with three runs on two hits and an error. Ashleigh St. Peter led off with a single through the right side, but was then thrown out trying to steal second base. Katie Elie and Sarah Calgreen followed by drawing walks. After a strike out, Stephanie Belanger reached on a two-base error by the left fielder to allow Elie and Calgreen to score. Michelle Franey then singled through the right side to drive in Belanger.
The Dolphins took the lead in the fifth inning with three runs on three hits. Sophomore shortstop Barb Shea (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) was hit by a pitch and stole second before Kermidas was walked to force an AIC pitching change. Following a ground out, sophomore first baseman Leah Ford (Pulaski, N.Y./Pulaski) singled down the left field line to knock in sophomore pinch-runner Kate Waltman (Alplaus, N.Y./Niskayuna). Senior right fielder Danielle VanGorder (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) followed with a single to right field to load the bases. Sophomore designated player Kelcie Cashel (Lacona, N.Y./Sandy Creek) then reached on a fielder's choice to plate Daum with the tying run. VanGorder then scored from second base on a single through the left side by Schweikert.
Junior Katelyn Fowler (Sandy Creek, N.Y./Sandy Creek) picked up her second win of the season by tossing two and two-thirds innings out of the bullpen without allowing a base runner. Elizabeth Habib took the loss for the Yellow Jackets after allowing one run on four hits in two innings in the circle.
In the nightcap, AIC struck for one run in the third inning on a solo home run to right center by St. Peter. Belanger added AIC's second run on a lead-off homer to right center in the fourth inning. Following a single by Franey, a Le Moyne pitching change and two outs, Becky Dion singled up the middle to drive in Franey from second.
The Yellow Jackets added four runs on four hits in the sixth inning. Belanger singled and Franey walked to open the frame. After a ground out retired Belanger on her way to third, Franey and Laura Rousseau moved up a base on a wild pitch. Michele Niejadlik then plated Franey as she reached on a suicide squeeze. Following a strike out by Dion and a wild pitch, St. Peter doubled to left center to drive in Rousseau and Niejadlik. The Yellow Jackets completed their scoring on a single to left center by Elie to plate St. Peter.
Le Moyne got on the scoreboard in the seventh with one run on two hits. Edmondson walked and Shea singled before Kermidas singled to center to drive in sophomore pinch-runner Kristin Brown (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Putnam Valley).
Habib went the distance in the circle for the Yellow Jackets in game two to pick up her fifth win of the season. Fowler suffered the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in four innings of work.
Le Moyne (4-12, NE-10 2-4), which had defeated the Yellow Jackets six straight times dating back to April 20, 2007, returns to action on Wednesday for a doubleheader at Pace beginning at 3:00 p.m.
