West Haven, Conn. – Senior lefty Sarah Harrison (Canandaigua, N.Y./Cobleskill-Richmondville) tossed a one-hitter as the Le Moyne College softball team defeated the University of New Haven, 2-0, in the first game of a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the UNH Softball Field. The Chargers took the nightcap, 5-0.
Following six scoreless innings, during which neither team moved a runner past second base, the Dolphins took advantage of a New Haven error to score two runs. Sophomore left fielder Allison Reynolds (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) started the rally with a one-out single up the middle. As senior designated player Vanessa Utley (Monroe, Ga./Homeschooled) reached on a fielder's choice on a sacrifice bunt attempt, Reynolds took second and was able to race home on a throwing error by the third baseman, which allowed Utley to advance to third. Junior catcher Kristie Capuano (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) followed with a single up the middle to drive in Utley.
For the third straight inning, Harrison sat the Chargers down in order in the bottom of the seventh, including the last two batters via strikeouts, to close out the victory.
Harrison finished the game with six strikeouts to earn her 24th career shutout and 70th career victory, the third-most in Division II among active players. With her ninth out of the game, Harrison became the first pitcher in the program's history to toss 800 innings, which is also the most among active pitchers. Nicole King, who tossed a no-hitter against the Dolphins last year and had a win and two saves in a four-game sweep by the Chargers, took the loss after allowing two unearned runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out eight.
In the nightcap, the Chargers plated three runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth. Following a pop out to start the frame, third baseman Lindsey Couturier and catcher Brooke Fisher singled up the middle and through the left side, respectively. Two batters later, second baseman Gabby DeLeo doubled to right center to knock in pinch-runner Erika Williams and Fisher. Pinch-hitter Gilly Childs then singled down the left field line to drive in DeLeo.
New Haven (21-10, 13-6 NE-10, 7-4 SW) added two runs on three hits in the fifth inning. First baseman Jess Spivey was hit by a pitch to open the frame, took second on a groundout and then scored on a two-out single through the left side by Fisher. Following a single through the left side by shortstop Julie Devlin, DeLeo singled to left field to plate Fisher.
Freshman Chelsea Claflin (Lacona, N.Y./Sandy Creek) suffered her second straight loss after yielding three runs on five hits over three and two-thirds innings, while striking out three. Capuano recorded two of Le Moyne's three hits in the contest. Victoria Cabral recorded seven strikeouts, while allowing three hits and three walks, to earn her 10th win of the year.
Le Moyne (19-11, 10-4 NE-10, 7-3 SW) is in action against two Southwest Division foes on Sunday at the UNH Softball Field. The Dolphins face New Haven at 12:00 p.m. and then take on Adelphi University at 2:30 p.m. The match-up with the Panthers completes the three-game series that was started in Syracuse on Thursday.
