Manchester, N.H. – Junior second baseman Kelcie Cashel (Lacona, N.Y./Sandy Creek) went three-for-four with three runs scored and a run batted in to lead the Le Moyne College softball team over Southern New Hampshire in the second game of a Northeast-10 doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Penmen Field. The teams split the series as the Penmen took the first game, 7-1, and the Dolphins won the latter contest, 7-2.
After three scoreless innings to start the first game, Southern New Hampshire scored two runs off of a pair of fielding errors. Cristy Jenkins walked to lead off the inning and moved to second with two outs on a wild pitch. Melissa Vitagliano then reached on a fielding error by the left fielder, allowing Jenkins to score. After a walk, first baseman Cara Daly reached on a fielding error by the left fielder, allowing Vitagliano to score.
The Dolphins put up their only score of the contest in the fifth inning. After a strikeout, Cashel reached base on a walk. Two batters later, junior catcher Morgan Edmondson (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) then doubled to left field to bring in Cashel.
The Penmen exploded in the sixth inning for five runs on three hits. Second baseman Kelsea Cheney started things off for SNHU with a single through the left side. Catcher Elena Anderson followed with a homerun to left field to make the score 4-1. After a strikeout and a groundout to third base, Daly walked, designated player Brittany Young singled to center and right fielder Amanda Barton walked to load the bases. Daly then scored on a passed ball, with Young and Barton advancing to third and second, respectively. Following a Le Moyne pitching change, center fielder Kate Stanley reached on a throwing error, allowing Young and Barton to score
Freshman Liz Weber (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) pitched five and two-thirds innings and struck out three batters, while giving up four hits and seven runs (two earned) in the loss. Dolores Mattice picked up the win in relief, tossing the final five innings, while allowing one run on four hits.
In the nightcap, Cashel started the game with a lead-off home run to left field to give the Dolphins the early lead.
After two scoreless innings, freshman right fielder Hannah Gatley (New Port Richey, Fla./J.W. Mitchell) singled up the middle to reach with two outs in the top of the fourth inning. Sophomore third baseman Fran Kiernan (Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) then doubled to left center to plate Gatley.
Vitagliano brought the Penmen within one run as she homered to left center in the bottom of the fourth.
Cashel singled to the left to start out the fifth for the Dolphins. Weber then doubled down the left field line to advance Cashel to third. Edmonson followed with a double to left center to drive in Cashel and Weber.
The Dolphins had their most productive inning of the game in the top of the seventh. Junior first baseman Leah Ford (Pulaski, N.Y./Pulaski) and Cashel led off with back-to-back singles. Weber singled to the pitcher, scoring Ford, while Cashel advanced to second. Edmondson then singled to drive in Cashel, while Weber was thrown out at home. After sophomore Demetra Kermidas (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley) reached on an error by the pitcher, Edmondson capped Le Moyne's scoring in the game by crossing home on a wild pitch.
Vitagliano homered to left to lead off the bottom of the seventh for the Penmen, but SNHU could not plate another run.
Freshman hurler Sarah Harrison (Cobleskill, N.Y./Cobleskill-Richmondville) earned the win with a complete-game performance. Harrison struck out five and gave up two runs and six hits. Katie Raymond took the loss after giving up two runs on five hits over four innings pitched.
Le Moyne (7-13, 5-3 NE-10) returns to the diamond on Sunday at St. Anselm for a doubleheader beginning at 12 pm.
