Garden City, N.Y. – Leighann Bell threw a two-hit shutout in the opener and Katie Andrews struck out 11 in a complete-game five-hitter to lead Adelphi to a doubleheader sweep of the Le Moyne College softball team on Monday afternoon. The Panthers took the opening game of the Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader, 2-0, and posted a 2-1 victory in eight innings in the nightcap.
In the opening game, the Panthers scored the only run they would need on a hit and two Le Moyne errors in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, shortstop Jeanine Leo walked and moved to second as right fielder Paige Rhodes reached on catcher's interference. Designated player Maria Canino then singled center, while Leo was able to score on an error by the center fielder.
Adelphi doubled its lead with an unearned run in the fifth inning. Center fielder Emily Dorko led off the frame by reaching on a two-base error by the third baseman. Following a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Shay Craig laid down a bunt single to drive in Dorko.
Freshman pitcher Liz Weber (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) took the loss after giving up two unearned runs on five hits over six innings pitched, while striking out four. Bell faced just one batter over the minimum in registering her 10th win of the season.
In the nightcap, the Panthers took the lead in the second inning with a run on one hit. First baseman Amanda Krier led off the inning by drawing a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Following a pop and a groundout, Krier scored from third on a single to center by catcher Deandra Leo.
The Dolphins evened the score in the top of the third on a two-out home run by junior second baseman Kelcie Cashel (Lacona, N.Y./Sandy Creek).
Following four scoreless innings, the Panthers scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning on three hits. Dorko and second baseman Heather Salerno led off the frame with back-to-back bunt singles. After Craig walked to load the bases and a foul out, Canino singled to drive in Dorko.
Freshman southpaw Sarah Harrison (Cobleskill, N.Y./Cobleskill-Richmondville) struck out seven over seven and one-third innings pitched in suffering the loss for the Dolphins after giving up both runs and eight hits. Cashel fell a triple shy of the cycle as she recorded three of Le Moyne's five hits.
Le Moyne (13-19, NE-10 11-9), which has dropped six straight games, returns to action on Tuesday against Saint Rose at 3:00 p.m.