Syracuse, N.Y. – Junior first baseman Leah Ford (Pulaski, N.Y./Pulaski) went 3-for-5 with two home runs, four runs batted in and four runs scored to lead the Le Moyne College softball team to a sweep of Bentley in Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex. The Dolphins took the opener, 8-0, in six innings and downed the Falcons, 6-1, in the nightcap.

The Dolphins scored the only runs they would need in the opening game with four runs on four hits in the third inning. Junior designated player Amanda Mosich (Penn Yan, N.Y./Penn Yan Academy) led off with a single to the right side and moved to second as Ford was hit by a pitch. Following a sacrifice bunt, freshman second baseman Liz Weber (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) blasted a three-run home run over the wall in left field. Two batters later, sophomore center fielder Demetra Kermidas (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley) tripled to right center and came in to score on a single up the middle by freshman pitcher Sarah Harrison (Cobleskill, N.Y./Cobleskill-Richmondville).

Le Moyne pushed its lead to 6-0 in the fourth inning with two runs on three hits. Freshman third baseman Sarah Vevante (Bethpage, N.Y./Family Foundation) opened the frame with a bunt single down the third baseline and proceeded to steal second base. After an out, Ford tripled to right field to knock in Vevante. Junior shortstop Barb Shea (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) followed with a single down the left field to plate Ford.

The Dolphins ended the game with two runs on a pair of hits in the bottom of the sixth inning. Senior left fielder Amanda Daum (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) singled down the left field line to open the inning. Following a pair of outs, Ford drilled a two-run homer over the fence in left center to seal the victory due to the eight-run rule.

Harrison earned the win in the circle after striking out nine over six innings pitched, while allowing just two hits to snap a four-game losing streak. Tara Fogarty took the loss for the Falcons after giving up eight runs on 10 hits over five and two-thirds innings pitched, while striking out three.

In the nightcap, the Falcons got on the scoreboard first with a run on one hit in the third inning. Second baseman Erica Thibodeau drew a walk to open the inning and moved to second on a one-out single up the middle by catcher Megan Blier. After shortstop Stephanie Kasson reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases, designated player Chelsea Tamuk lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Thibodeau.

Ford evened the score at one apiece by launching an 0-2 pitch over the fence in right center to lead off the third inning.

The Dolphins took the lead with two runs on two hits in the fourth inning. Kermidas led off by drawing a walk on nine pitches and moved to second on a passed ball. After Harrison walked, the Dolphins loaded the bases as Daum reached on a bunt single down the third baseline. As a pinch-hitter, Mosich singled through the left side to drive in Kermidas and pinch-runner Kristin Brown (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Putnam Valley).

Le Moyne extended its lead to 4-1 with a run in the fifth inning. Weber led off with a double to right center and came around to score on a single to left center by junior catcher Morgan Edmondson (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City).

The Dolphins finished off the game's scoring with two runs on a hit and a Bentley error in the sixth inning. Freshman right fielder Hannah Gatley (New Port Richey, Fla./J.W. Mitchell) reached on a dropped fly ball by the right fielder to open the frame. After a pair of outs, Shea smacked a two-run homer to straightaway center field to make the score 6-1.

Freshman pitcher Vanessa Utley (Monroe, Ga./Home School) registered her second straight win in the circle after striking out four over five innings pitched, while yielding just the one run on three hits. Harrison picked up her first career save by tossing two scoreless innings and striking out a pair of Falcons. Weber, Edmondson and Harrison led Le Moyne's 10-hit attack with two hits apiece. Deanna Rousseau suffered the loss after giving up three runs on six hits over three-plus innings pitched.

Le Moyne (16-20-1, NE-10 14-10-1), which is unbeaten over its last four games (3-0-1) after dropping seven straight games, closes out the regular season on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. against Stonehill. With one win over the Skyhawks, the Dolphins will clinch a berth in next week's Northeast-10 Conference tournament.