Albany, N.Y. – Senior second baseman Kelly Schweikert (Rochester, N.Y./Spencerport) had four hits, three runs scored and two runs batted in to lead the Le Moyne College softball team to a split of a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader with Saint Rose on Thursday afternoon at the Plumeri Complex. The Dolphins won the opener, 6-1, but fell in the nightcap, 5-3.
The Dolphins opened the first contest by scoring the only runs they would need on two hits. Senior left fielder Bailey Phillips (Rochester, N.Y./Greece-Arcadia) doubled down the right field line with one out. Schweikert followed with a two-run homer to left field. With the home run, Schweikert moved into a tie with Sarah Reed '08 for second on the program's all-time home run list.
Le Moyne added one run on two hits and an error in the second inning. Sophomore shortstop Barb Shea (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) singled to lead off the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Shea scored on a throwing error as sophomore first baseman Leah Ford (Pulaski, N.Y./Pulaski) singled to left field.
In the third inning, the Dolphins increased their lead to four runs by scoring once on three hits. Schweikert and sophomore catcher Morgan Edmondson (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) each singled with one out. Freshman Demetra Kermidas (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley) followed with a single to right center to drive in Schweikert.
Le Moyne extended its lead to six runs with a run in the fifth and a run in the sixth. Edmondson tripled to right center in the fifth and scored on a single to center by Kermidas. In the sixth, Ford drilled a solo homer to left center with two outs.
The Golden Knights got on the board in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run to left center by Jessica Butterbrodt.
Junior Jenna Vanacore (Hicksville, N.Y./Holy Trinity) earned the victory after striking out three batters, while scattering five hits and yielding one run in seven innings. Nicole Traylor suffered the loss after giving up six runs (five earned) on 12 hits in seven innings. Phillips, Schweikert, Edmondson, Kermidas and Ford each registered two hits in the contest.
Le Moyne scored first in the nightcap, but Saint Rose took the lead in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore Kelcie Cashel (Lacona, N.Y./Sandy Creek) led off the game with a single to the shortstop and proceeded to steal second base. Following a single by Phillips and a pair of strikeouts, Kermidas singled to center to plate Cashel.
The Golden Knights answered back with two runs on three hits and two errors. Ashley Fryer walked with one out and moved to third on a single by Kayla Kuilema and a throwing error by the second baseman. Ashley Anderson followed with a single back to the pitcher to drive in Fryer. After Butterbrodt loaded the bases with a single to right field, Kuilema was retired at home on a ball hit by Traylor, but Anderson scored on a throwing error by the first baseman.
Saint Rose extended its lead to two runs by scoring once on two hits in the second inning. Lauren Ruggerio singled up the middle and moved to second on a sac bunt. Following a foul out, Fryer singled to right to knock in Ruggerio.
In the fourth inning, Meg Rios walked to open the frame and force the second Le Moyne pitching change of the game. After a strike out, Kuilema tripled to right center to score Rios.
The Dolphins cut their deficit to 4-2 by scoring one run on three hits in the fifth inning. Schweikert singled and stole second with one out. Edmondson followed with a single up the middle to plate Schweikert.
The Golden Knights got the run back in the bottom of the sixth on two hits. Pinch-hitter Steph Luce led off the frame by drawing a walk and moving to second on a bunt single by Rios. After Luce advanced to third on a ground ball by Fryer, Kuilema doubled to center to knock in Luce.
Le Moyne scored once on two errors in the seventh inning, but could not plate the tying run. Kermidas reached on a fielding error by the left fielder with two outs. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Kermidas scored as Shea reached on a fielding error by the second baseman. Sarah Arbogast induced a fly out to end the game.
Sophomore Brenna Klein (Huntington Beach, Calif./Ocean View) took the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits in one and two-thirds innings pitched. Arbogast earned the win after striking out six batters over seven innings, while giving up three runs (two earned) on nine hits.
Le Moyne (18-18, NE-10 16-10), which lost to the Golden Knights for the first time since the 2002 season, a span which included 16 straight victories, returns to action on Saturday at Bentley at 12:00 p.m.
