New Haven, Conn. – Freshman shortstop Kirsten Trotta (Wilmington, Del./Alexis I. Dupont) went 6-for-7 with three runs scored and three runs batted in to lead the Le Moyne College softball team to a split of a doubleheader at Southern Connecticut State University on Sunday afternoon at Pelz Field. The Dolphins won the opener, a Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division match-up, 2-1, but fell in the non-conference nightcap, 6-3.

Le Moyne got on the scoreboard first with a run on three hits in the top of the third inning. After a pair of pop outs to the shortstop, Trotta singled to the second baseman and senior third baseman Fran Kiernan (Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) followed with a single to right center. Sophomore catcher Kristie Capuano (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) then singled to right center to drive in Trotta.

Southern Connecticut State evened the score at one apiece in the bottom of the fourth on two hits. Third baseman Alyssa Downs doubled to center field with one out and came around to score on a single by first baseman Kaley Marden.

The Dolphins plated the winning run in the top of the sixth inning as Trotta blasted a solo home run to left field to lead off the frame.

Junior southpaw Sarah Harrison (Canandaigua, N.Y./Cobleskill-Richmondville) earned the win in the circle after recording five strikeouts and yielding just one run on three hits. Trotta and Capuano each had two of Le Moyne's seven hits. Kelsey Cockrill took the loss after giving up two runs on seven hits over seven innings, while striking out 10.

In the nightcap, the Dolphins opened the scoring with a run on two hits in the third inning. Freshman right fielder Allison Reynolds (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) led off with a single to second base and then took second on a one-out wild pitch. After a fly out, Trotta singled up the middle to drive in Reynolds.

The Owls took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with three runs on four hits and two Le Moyne errors. Second baseman Kate Hoffman led off with a single to left center and advanced to second on a single to left center by catcher Stacy Pouliot. Left fielder Julie Muscarella then reached on a throwing error by the catcher, which allowed Hoffman to score. After a pop out, center fielder Brittany Bucko singled to left center to drive in pinch-runner Nora Crann. Following a single by shortstop Nicole Buch and a groundout, Downs reached on an error by the shortstop, which allowed Bucko to score.

Le Moyne evened the score at three apiece in the top of the fifth inning on three hits. With two outs, freshman first baseman Cara Cawley (Endwell, N.Y./Maine-Endwell) doubled to right field and was replaced at second base by freshman pinch-runner Mackenzie Dreher (Hinckley, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit). Trotta then tripled to right field to knock in Dreher. Kiernan followed with a single down the right field line to plate Trotta.

Southern Connecticut State took the lead for good with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth inning. Right fielder Sarah Koerner led off with a bunt single and then moved to second on a single to right by Bucko. After a sacrifice bunt by Buch, first baseman Kristin Whitley grounded out to the second baseman to drive in Koerner with the go-ahead run. Downs then launched a two-run homer to left center.

Junior Erin Batson (Poland, N.Y./Poland) took the loss after yielding six runs (five earned) on 14 hits over five and two-thirds innings pitched. Trotta recorded four of Le Moyne's nine hits, while Cawley had a career-high three hits. Jessica Van Alphen earned the win for the Owls after striking out 10 over seven innings, while giving up three runs on nine hits.

Le Moyne (15-18, 12-9 NE-10, 8-9 SW) closes out non-conference action on Tuesday at Mansfield University at 3:00 p.m.