New Haven, Conn. – Jayme Larson tossed six scoreless innings to earn a win and a save in lead Southern Connecticut to a doubleheader sweep of the Le Moyne College softball team on Wednesday afternoon at Pelz Field. The Owls rallied for a 6-4 win in the opening and posted an 8-0 victory in the mercy-rule shortened nightcap.
In the opening game, the Dolphins jumped in front by three runs through two innings. Sophomore third baseman Kelcie Cashel (Lacona, N.Y./Sandy Creek) singled back to the pitcher to open the game and proceeded to steal second base. Two batters later, senior second baseman Kelly Schweikert (Rochester, N.Y./Spencerport) singled to center to drive in Cashel.
In the second inning, junior center fielder Amanda Daum (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) was hit by a pitch with two outs and came around to score on a home run to center field by sophomore first baseman Leah Ford (Pulaski, N.Y./Pulaski).
Southern Connecticut responded with six runs over the next four innings. Khristle Lee tripled to center in the third inning to drive in Brittany Bucko, who walked to open the frame. Lee later scored on a wild pitch.
In the fourth inning, Bucko and Lee walked with two outs, with Bucko stealing second in between. Megan Caporossi then singled to center to plate Bucko.
The Owls took the lead with one run on two hits in the fifth. After Alyssa Pagano walked and moved to second on a sac bunt, Julianne Flood reached base as Pagano was retired at third. Flood then stole second and Meryl Ragaini was walked. Alyssa Downs then singled to center to knock in Flood.
Southern Connecticut extended its lead in the sixth as Lee walked and scored on a homer to left field by Caporossi.
The Dolphins scored once in the seventh inning, but could not cut into their deficit any further. Ford led off with a double and moved to second on a single by Cashel after a pitching change. Following a fly out, Ford scored on a double steal. Larson induced consecutive groundouts to end the game.
Junior Jenna Vanacore (Hicksville, N.Y./Holy Trinity) took the loss after allowing six runs on nine hits in six innings, while striking out three batters. Brittany Hill earned the win after yielding four runs on six hits in six frames. Larson allowed just Cashel's single in picking up her third save.
In the nightcap, the Owls struck for three runs on three hits and two errors in the first inning. Bucko walked and Lee singled to open the frame. Two batters later, Kerry Iacomini singled to left field to plate Bucko. Pagano then reached on a fielding error by the third baseman, while Lee scored on a throwing error by the shortstop. After Flood walked, Ragaini singled to right to plate Iacomini.
In the second, Downs walked and Bucko singled to begin the inning. Following a strike out, Downs was retired at third as Caporossi reached base. Iacomini then singled to right to drive in Bucko and advanced to second on an error by the right fielder.
The Owls increased their lead to six runs in the third by scoring twice on two hits. Kristin Whitley singled and Flood walked before each moved up a base on a sac bunt by Ragaini. Downs followed with a double to right field to plate Whitley and Flood.
Southern Connecticut ended the game by scoring once in the fourth and once in the fifth to take an eight run lead. Iacomini doubled with one out in the fourth and came around to score on a single to right by Pagano.
In the fifth, the Owls loaded the bases as Downs doubled, Bucko struck out, but reached on a passed ball on strike three and Lee walked. Two batters later, Iacomini flied out to center to score Downs with the final run.
Junior Katelyn Fowler (Sandy Creek, N.Y./Sandy Creek) suffered the loss after allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits in just two and one-third innings. Larson went all five innings, while allowing just three hits, to improve to 10-5 on the season.
Le Moyne (12-16, NE-10 10-8), which was swept at home by the Owls last season during the regular season, but defeated them in the NE-10 tournament, returns to action at home on Saturday against Merrimack at 12:00 p.m.
