North Andover, Mass. - Center fielder Monique Gosselin blasted a pair of home runs, drove in four runs and scored twice to lead Merrimack to a sweep of the Le Moyne College softball team in a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Warrior Diamond. The Warriors took the opener, 2-0, and rallied for an 8-4 win in the nightcap.
After five and one-half scoreless innings in the opener, the Warriors scored the game's only runs in the bottom of the sixth. Following a pop out and a strikeout, Gosselin blasted a solo home run to right field. Catcher Kara Melillo followed by launching a homer down the left field line.
Freshman pitcher Liz Weber (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) took the loss after giving up both runs and four hits over five and two-thirds innings pitched, while striking out five batters. Junior second baseman Kelcie Cashel (Lacona, N.Y./Sandy Creek) had a single and sophomore center fielder Demetra Kermidas (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley) doubled for Le Moyne's only two hits. Kelli Jo Deardorff earned the win in the circle for the Warriors after striking out five in the complete-game, two-hitter.
In the nightcap, shortstop Kristen LeMay and right fielder Jamie Millett smacked back-to-back home runs to left field to open the first inning.
The Dolphins took the lead in the fifth inning with four runs on three hits and a Merrimack error. Freshman right fielder Hannah Gatley (New Port Richey, Fla./J.W. Mitchell) led off the frame by reaching on a dropped throw by the first baseman and moved to second on a single through the left side by Weber. After a pair of outs, junior shortstop Barb Shea (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) tripled down the right field line to drive in Gatley and Weber. Junior catcher Morgan Edmondson (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) following by smashing her third home run of the season over the fence in center.
Merrimack regained the lead with three runs on two hits in the bottom of the inning. LeMay walked to begin the frame, but was retired at second as Millett reached on a fielder's choice. Following a single to left by third baseman Tawny Palmieri, Gosselin drilled a three-run homer to left field.
The Warriors tacked on three runs on three hits in the sixth inning to deliver the final score. Left fielder Alex Gallant singled to open the inning and moved to second on a groundout. After a fly out and a walk by LeMay, Millett doubled down the left field line to knock in Gallant and LeMay. Palmieri then singled up the middle to plate Millett.
Freshman pitcher Sarah Harrison (Cobleskill, N.Y./Cobleskill-Richmondville) suffered her second straight loss after allowing eight runs on nine hits over six innings pitched, while recording four strikeouts. Deardorff picked up the win in relief after tossing two scoreless innings.
Le Moyne (13-17, NE-10 11-7), which has been swept in back-to-back doubleheaders after sweeping three straight doubleheaders, returns to action on Saturday at UMass Lowell at 8:30 a.m.
