Syracuse, N.Y. – Micah Stonesifer struck out 12 batters in the first game and Nicole King struck out 13 batters en route to a no-hitter in the nightcap as the University of New Haven swept the Le Moyne College softball team on Saturday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division doubleheader at the Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex. The Chargers rallied to win the opener, 3-2, in 10 innings and then posted a 6-0 victory in game two.
In the opening game, the Dolphins pushed across two runs on two hits in the first inning. Sophomore catcher Kristie Capuano (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) led off the frame with a single to the first baseman. Senior center fielder Demetra Kermidas (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley) then tripled to left center to drive in Capuano. After a groundout, senior third baseman Fran Kiernan (Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) knocked in Kermidas as she reached on a fielder's choice.
After six scoreless innings, the Chargers plated two runs on two hits in the top of the seventh inning. Left fielder Meghan Chamoff opened the frame with a single to the third baseman. After a pop out, shortstop Christina Gelardi, one of the 10 best hitters in the nation with a .517 batting average, blasted a two-run home run down the right field line to tie the score at two apiece.
After failing to plate a runner from third base in the eighth and ninth innings, the Chargers took advantage of the international tie-breaker to score the winning run. Pinch-runner Erika Williams was placed on second to start the frame and then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Keri Tricinelli then lifted a fly ball down the right field line, which was deep enough for Williams to race home.
Junior southpaw Sarah Harrison (Canandaigua, N.Y./Cobleskill-Richmondville) suffered the loss after yielding three runs (two earned) on eight hits over 10 innings pitched, while striking out 11 batters. Stonesifer recorded 12 strikeouts over 10 innings in the circle to earn her ninth win of the year, while allowing two runs on seven hits.
In the nightcap, the Chargers scored first, plating the only run they would need on two hits in the top of the third inning. Gelardi was hit by a pitch to start the frame and then took second on a single by right fielder Jen Palase. After a sacrifice bunt, first baseman Jess Spivey reached on a bunt single down the first base line to drive in Gelardi.
New Haven added two runs on one hit in the fifth inning. Following a hit batsman, a walk by Gelardi and a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Lindsey Couturier smashed a single up the middle to knock in center fielder Brandy Dianno and Gelardi.
The Chargers scored twice in the sixth inning on three hits. A double by second baseman Lucy Francisco, a single in front of the plate by Dianno and an intentional walk by Gelardi loaded the bases with two outs. Pinch-hitter Brooke Fisher then singled to right field to plate Francisco and Dianno.
New Haven took advantage of a Le Moyne error in the seventh inning to score its final run. After Spivey walked to open the frame, pinch-runner Sadie Redman took second on a groundout by Tricinelli and then came around to score on a throwing error by the first baseman.
King struck out 13 batters over her seven hitless innings, while issuing two walks and hitting a batter. Harrison took the loss after giving up three runs on four hits and three walks over four and one-third innings pitched.
Le Moyne (10-13, 8-6 NE-10, 4-6 SW), which had its six-game win streak snapped with the game one loss, continues its four-game series with New Haven on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
