Syracuse, N.Y. – Senior third baseman Fran Kiernan (Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) doubled home the winning run in the sixth inning as the Le Moyne College softball team recorded an 8-6 victory over Assumption College in the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at the Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex. The Greyhounds registered a 2-1 win in the opener, a Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division match-up.

After four scoreless innings to start the opener, Assumption scored twice on three hits in the top of the fifth inning. Shortstop Kayli Moniz led off with a single to right field and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Lauren Medeiros. After a pop out, center fielder Tanya Robidoux singled through the left side to drive in Moniz, while taking second on the throw home. First baseman Ashley Impagliazzo followed with another single through the left side to knock in Robidoux.

The Dolphins scored once on one hit and an Assumption error in the bottom of the seventh inning, but left the game-tying run stranded at third base. With two outs, senior center fielder Demetra Kermidas (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley) pulled a single down the right field line. Freshman first baseman Cara Cawley (Endwell, N.Y./Maine-Endwell) then reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, which allowed Kermidas to race around the bases and score, while Cawley ended up at third base. However, Assumption pitcher Jenn Lattal induced a foul pop out on her next pitch to end the game.

Junior southpaw Sarah Harrison (Canandaigua, N.Y./Cobleskill-Richmondville) suffered the loss after yielding two runs on six hits over seven innings, while striking out seven batters. Freshman shortstop Kirsten Trotta (Wilmington, Del./Alexis I. Dupont) and sophomore catcher Kristie Capuano (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) each had two of Le Moyne's six hits. Lattal picked up the win in the circle after giving up just the unearned run on six hits over seven innings, while striking out six.

In the nightcap, the Greyhounds pushed across two runs in the first inning on two hits and a Le Moyne error. Medeiros doubled off the top of the fence in right center to start the game and then came around to score on a single to right field by left fielder Melissa Jalbert, who advanced to third on an error by the right fielder. After an out, Jalbert scored on a groundout by Impagliazzo.

Le Moyne took the lead in the bottom of the first on two hits and an Assumption error. Cawley singled to center with one out and moved to second on a two-out walk by Kiernan. Capuano then reached on a dropped fly ball by the right fielder, which allowed Cawley to score and Kiernan to advance to third. Junior pitcher Vanessa Utley (Monroe, Ga./Home School) followed with a single through the left side to drive in Kiernan and Capuano.

Assumption evened the score at three apiece in the second on two hits. Moniz singled up the middle to start the frame and came around to score on a two-out double to right center by Medeiros.

The Dolphins regained the lead with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore left fielder Stephanie Ostrander (Gansevoort, N.Y./Schuylerville) led off with a single up the middle and advanced to third on a double to center field by freshman right fielder Allison Reynolds (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield). After an Assumption pitching change, Kermidas singled to right field to drive in Ostrander and Reynolds. Following a walk by Cawley and a groundout, Kiernan singled through the left side to knock in Cawley for a 6-3 lead.

The Greyhounds started to chip away at their deficit with a run on two hits and a Le Moyne error in the third inning. Impagliazzo singled to left center with one out and took second on an error by the left fielder. After a single by third baseman Jess DiPilato and a Le Moyne pitching change, designated player/catcher Kolby Davenport lifted a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Impagliazzo.

Assumption tied the score for the second time with two runs on two hits and a Le Moyne error in the fourth inning. Catcher/designated player Andrea Crowley opened the frame with a single to center and advanced to second as pinch-hitter Liz Morgan reached on a fielding error by the second baseman. After a walk by Medeiros to load the bases, Jalbert singled through the right side to knock in Crowley and Morgan.

Le Moyne regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning on three hits. Kermidas singled to right center to open the frame and moved to second on a sac bunt by Cawley. After Trotta singled in front of the plate, her 13th straight game with a hit, the longest streak by a Dolphin since Kelcie Cashel '12 had a 16-game streak ended on May 10, 2009, Kiernan doubled down the right field line to plate Kermidas with the go-ahead run. Following a pop out, Harrison drew a walk on six pitches, while Trotta raced home as ball four was thrown to the backstop.

Harrison earned the win by tossing the final four and two-thirds innings, while striking out five and yielding two runs (one earned) on four hits. Kermidas, Cawley and Kiernan each posted two hits in the contest, while Kermidas, Kiernan and Utley each knocked in two runs. Rachel Hedge took the loss for the Greyhounds after giving up three runs on six hits over the final five innings.

Le Moyne (17-20, 12-10 NE-10, 8-10 SW) returns to action on Saturday against Pace University at 12:00 p.m. Prior to the doubleheader, the Dolphin Athletic Association will honor seniors Kermidas and Kiernan for their contributions to the program. Heading into the final three division games of the season, the Dolphins hold the fourth and final spot into the Northeast-10 Conference Championships. The Dolphins will clinch the spot with any combination of three Le Moyne wins and Assumption losses. The Greyhounds close out the season at home against 13-5 New Haven.