Syracuse, N.Y. – Senior third baseman Kelcie Cashel (Lacona, N.Y./Sandy Creek) had three hits and drove in the go-ahead run to lead the Le Moyne College softball team to a 5-3 win over UMass Lowell in the first round of the Northeast-10 Conference Championships on Wednesday afternoon at the Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex.
The Dolphins, the fourth seed in the championship, opened the game's scoring with two runs on two hits and an error by the River Hawks in the first inning. Cashel led off the inning with a single to left field and she advanced to third on a double to left by senior shortstop Barb Shea (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa). Cashel then raced home on a wild pitch for the first run of the day. After senior catcher Morgan Edmondson (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) walked, Shea scored from third on an errant pick-off throw by the catcher.
The River Hawks, the fifth seed, cut their deficit in half with a run on one hit in the fourth inning. Catcher Lindsi Panarelli was hit by a pitch with one out and came around to score on a two-out double to right field by third baseman Ali Ferraro.
UMass Lowell took the lead with two runs on two hits in the top of the fifth inning. Left fielder Ally Greene walked to open the frame and moved to second on a single to left by shortstop Meagan Guy. After a sacrifice bunt moved each runner up a base, Greene scored from third on a sacrifice fly down the left field line by right fielder Ariana Darcy. First team all-conference selection Elyssa Boris followed with a single to center to drive in Guy.
Le Moyne knotted the score at three apiece in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of hits. Cashel led off with a single through the left side and came around to score on a one-out double to center by Edmondson.
The Dolphins took the lead in the sixth with two runs on three hits. After sophomore pitcher Sarah Harrison (Cobleskill, N.Y./Cobleskill-Richmondville) singled to right center with one out, senior first baseman Leah Ford (Pulaski, N.Y./Pulaski) singled through the left side with two outs. Cashel followed with a double to shallow left center to knock in Harrison and Ford.
The River Hawks put the tying run on base in the top of the seventh, but Harrison induced a ground out and a foul out to end the game.
Harrison earned her program record-tying 25th win of the year after striking out seven batters, while allowing three runs on three hits. In addition to Cashel's multi-hit performance, Shea, Harrison and Ford each recorded two hits. Courtney Lanfranchi took the loss after giving up three runs on five hits over two innings in relief of Boris.
Le Moyne (27-24), which has won four straight games and 12 of its last 13, opens the double-elimination portion of the conference championship, hosted by Southern Connecticut State, on Friday at 10:00 a.m. against the top-seeded Owls.
