Syracuse, N.Y. – Senior second baseman Kelly Schweikert (Rochester, N.Y./Spencerport) had five hits and five runs batted in and junior righty Jenna Vanacore (Hicksville, N.Y./Holy Trinity) went the distance in both games to lead the Le Moyne College softball team to a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader sweep over Merrimack on Saturday afternoon at the Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex. The Dolphins rallied for an 8-4 win in the nightcap and posted a 3-1 victory in the nightcap.
Merrimack opened the scoring in the first inning of game one as Jamie Millett blasted a one-out solo home run to left center field.
The Dolphins took the lead with three runs on four hits and a Merrimack error in the second inning. Junior centerfielder Amanda Daum (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) doubled down the right field line with two outs. Freshman designated player Demetra Kermidas (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley) followed with a single to center to drive in Daum. After sophomore third baseman Kelcie Cashel (Lacona, N.Y./Sandy Creek) reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, senior left fielder Bailey Phillips (Rochester, N.Y./Greece-Arcadia) singled up the middle to knock in Kermidas. Schweikert then delivered her first RBI of the day by plating Cashel with a single up the middle.
The Warriors regained the lead with three runs on two hits and a Le Moyne error in the fifth. Atlee Cahill walked with one out and advanced to second as Emily Cummings reached on an error. After Cummings was retired at second base as Amanda Zanni reached base, Kristen Lemay singled to left to drive in Cahill from third. Millett then doubled to right center to knock in Zanni and Lemay.
Le Moyne took the lead for good with five runs on six hits in the bottom of the sixth inning. Daum doubled down the left field line with one out and Kermidas followed by drawing a walk. Cashel then singled to right to load the bases. After Phillips singled through the right side to score Daum and Kermidas, Schweikert blasted her 23rd career home run over the fence down the left field line to cap the game's scoring. The 23 home runs ties Schweikert with Jennifer Farrelly '09 for the third-most in the program's history.
Vanacore scattered five hits over the seven innings to pick up her sixth victory, while striking out four batters. Kelli Jo Deardorff took the loss after allowing five runs on six hits in two innings of work.
The Dolphins jumped in front in the first inning of the nightcap with a run on two hits. Phillips doubled down the left field line with one out and came around to score on a double to left center by Schweikert.
The Warriors evened the score in the next inning on a pair of hits. Casey Conetta singled with one out and later scored on a single up the middle by Millett.
In the third, Cashel doubled to left with one away. Phillips then singled up the middle to drive in Cashel, but was tagged out after being caught between first and second base.
The Dolphins added an insurance run in the sixth on two hits. Schweikert led off with a single to the third baseman. After stealing her second base of the game, Schweikert scored on a single to right center by sophomore shortstop Barb Shea (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa).
Vanacore struck out three batters in recording her ninth complete game of the year, while registering three strikeouts. Cahill took the loss after yielding three runs on eight hits over six innings.
Le Moyne (14-16, NE-10 12-8), which has won seven consecutive games against the Warriors, returns to the diamond on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. against UMass Lowell. Prior to game one, the senior class of Phillips, Schweikert and Danielle VanGorder (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) will be honored for their contributions to the program.
