Albany, N.Y. – Junior southpaw Sarah Harrison (Canandaigua, N.Y./Cobleskill-Richmondville) registered 18 strikeouts and freshman Kirsten Trotta (Wilmington, Del./Alexis I. Dupont) went 4-for-6 with seven RBI to lead the Le Moyne College softball team to a sweep of a doubleheader with The College of Saint Rose on Wednesday afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division action at Cathy Haker Field at the Plumeri Sports Complex. The Dolphins won the opener, 4-2, and registered a 10-0 win in five innings in the nightcap.

With the two victories, Le Moyne claims one-half point in the year-long "Upstate Challenge" between the two institutions. The half-point pulls Le Moyne within 6.0-5.5 through 15 contests. The other softball half-point will be awarded on Wednesday, April 17 in Syracuse.

The Dolphins got on the scoreboard first in the opener with two runs on two hits in the fourth inning. Harrison drew a walk with one out and was replaced at first by junior pinch-runner Sarah Tram (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool). After Tram stole second, senior center fielder Demetra Kermidas (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley) doubled to left center to plate Tram. After a fly out moved Kermidas to third, Trotta singled through the left side to drive in Kermidas.

Le Moyne extended its lead to 4-0 with two runs on three hits in the top of the fifth inning. Freshman first baseman Cara Cawley (Endwell, N.Y./Maine-Endwell) led off with a double to center field and was replaced at second by junior pinch-runner Erin Batson (Poland, N.Y./Poland). After a strikeout, sophomore catcher Kristie Capuano (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) singled up the middle to Batson. Following a single by freshman fielder Allison Reynolds (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) moved Capuano to third, she scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Harrison.

The Golden Knights cut their deficit in half with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the fifth inning. Third baseman Rachel Reed drew a walk to open the inning and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, right fielder Kari Bird singled to center field to drive in Reed. Left fielder Amber Loussedes followed with a bunt single, with Bird scoring on the throw.

Harrison earned her third victory of the season after striking out 13 batters over the seven innings, while yielding two runs on three hits. Ashlee Frazier took the loss after giving up four runs on six hits over five innings in the circle.

The Dolphins scored the only run they would need in the nightcap on two hits in the second inning. Kermidas led off the frame by drawing a walk and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Trotta then singled to left field to drive in Kermidas.

Le Moyne blew the game open with five runs on three hits and two Saint Rose errors in the top of the third inning. Capuano doubled to left center with one out and moved to third on a fly out. Harrison followed with a single up the middle to knock in Capuano. Kermidas and senior third baseman Fran Kiernan">Fran Kiernan (Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) then reached errors by the second baseman and shortstop, respectively, to load the bases. Trotta followed with a grand slam to left field to give the Dolphins a 6-0 lead.

The Dolphins added four runs on four hits in the fifth inning. Reynolds led off the frame with a single up the middle and came around to score on a double to right center by Harrison. After a Saint Rose pitching change and a fly out, Kiernan launched two-run homer to left center. Trotta followed with a solo home run to left field.

Harrison allowed just two hits, while striking out five batters over five innings, to earn her fourth victory of the campaign. Trotta went 3-for-3 in the contest with six runs batted in, while Harrison added two hits and two RBI. Nicole Wickham took the loss after giving up eight runs (five earned) on seven hits over four and one-third innings.

Le Moyne (4-7, 2-0 NE-10, 2-0 SW), which snapped a four-game losing streak with the game one victory, returns to action on Friday at Adelphi University at 3:00 p.m.