Syracuse, N.Y. – Senior pitcher Sarah Harrison (Canandaigua, N.Y./Cobleskill-Richmondville) tossed 13 scoreless innings to lead the Le Moyne College softball team to a sweep of Southern Connecticut State University on Friday in a Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division doubleheader at the Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex. The Dolphins won the opener, 3-0, and then took the nightcap, 8-0, in six innings. With the sweep and losses by Saint Rose and American International, the Dolphins clinched a berth in the Northeast-10 Conference Championships, which start on April 29.

In the third inning of the opening game, the Dolphins scored twice on four hits for the only runs they would need. Sophomore first baseman Cara Cawley (Endwell, N.Y./Maine-Endwell) led off the frame with a single to center field and came around to score on a one-out double to left center by freshman shortstop Courtney Case (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon), who took third on the throw home. Senior second baseman Sarah Tram (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) followed with a single down the third base line to drive in Case.

Le Moyne added an insurance run on one hit in the fifth inning. Case led off with a double to left center and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. After an out, freshman centerfielder Sabrina Riley (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) lifted a sacrifice fly to center to knock in Case.

Harrison registered eight strikeouts, while yielding just five hits and two walks, to record her 14th win and fifth shutout of the season. Case and Cawley each recorded two of Le Moyne's seven hits. Yesenia Evaristo took the loss after giving up three runs on seven hits over six innings pitched, while striking out five.

In the nightcap, the Dolphins scored three times in the second inning on three hits and a Southern Connecticut error. Sophomore left fielder Allison Reynolds (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) doubled to right center with one out and then moved to third on a single to center by senior designated player Vanessa Utley (Monroe, Ga./Homeschooled). Reynolds then scored as junior catcher Kristie Capuano (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) reached on a fielding error by the second baseman. As Capuano stole second, Utley stole home for the second run of the game. Following a walk by Cawley and a fly out, Case doubled to left center to drive in Capuano. With the double, Case extended her streak of reaching base to 30 consecutive games.

Le Moyne added two runs on four hits and a Southern Connecticut error in the fourth inning. Following singles by Utley and Capuano to open the frame, Cawley singled through the right side, while Utley scored on a fielding error by the right fielder. After a pair of outs, Tram singled to the shortstop to drive in Capuano.

The Dolphins tacked on one run in the fifth inning on two hits. After a two-out single to left field by Utley, Capuano doubled to right field to plate Utley.

Le Moyne ended the game with two runs on two hits and a Southern Connecticut error in the sixth inning. Following singles by Harrison and Tram around an out, Riley reached on an error by the shortstop to load the bases. Sophomore third baseman Kirsten Trotta (Wilmington, Del./Alexis I. Dupont) then drew a walk to force in Harrison. Reynolds then reached on a fielder's choice to drive in Tram with the final run.

Harrison struck out three batters, while giving up just four hits and only allowing one runner to reach third base, to earn her eighth win in her last nine appearances. Utley tied her career high with three hits and scored a career-best three runs, while Tram and Capuano each had two hits. Audrey Dolloff suffered the loss in the circle for the Owls after giving up eight runs (four earned) on 11 hits over five and two-thirds innings.

Le Moyne (22-12, 13-5 NE-10, 10-4 SW), which has won 15 of its last 20 games to take over first place in the Southwest Division standings, closes out its regular season home schedule on Saturday against Southern Connecticut State at 12:00 p.m. Prior to the first pitch, the senior class of Tram, Utley, Harrison, Stephanie Ostrander (Gansevoort, N.Y./Schuylerville), Amy Bogolin (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) and Erin Batson (Poland, N.Y./Poland) will be honored by the Dolphin Athletic Association for their contributions to the program.