Springfield, Mass. – Senior southpaw Sarah Harrison (Canandaigua, N.Y./Cobleskill-Richmondville) earned a win and a save to lead the Le Moyne College softball team to a sweep of American International College on Wednesday afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference action at Groff Field. The Dolphins won the opener, 5-2, and took the nightcap, 2-1.
The Yellow Jackets opened the scoring in the first game with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the second inning. After third baseman Jorrdin Miller singled down the right field line with one out, catcher Katie Merrill tripled to right field to knock in Miller. First baseman Yamilette Lopez-Perez followed with a single to right to plate Merrill.
Le Moyne answered with four runs on three hits and two American International errors to take the lead in the top of the third inning. Sophomore left fielder Allison Reynolds (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) led off with a single to right field and then took second on a passed ball. After senior second baseman Sarah Tram (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) reached on a bunt single, Reynolds scored on a throwing error by the catcher as Tram stole second. After freshman shortstop Courtney Case (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon) was hit by a pitch and junior catcher Kristie Capuano (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) reached on an error to load the bases, freshman center fielder Sabrina Riley (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) doubled to center field to drive in Tram and Case. Following a groundout and a walk by freshman designated player/pitcher Chelsea Claflin (Lacona, N.Y./Sandy Creek), Riley scored from third base.
The Dolphins added a run on two hits in the top of the seventh inning. Sophomore third baseman Kirsten Trotta (Wilmington, Del./Alexis I. Dupont) singled with one out and then took second on a walk by Claflin. After a walk by Harrison loaded the bases, Reynolds singled to center to knock in Claflin.
Harrison struck out nine batters to earn her sixth win of the season, while yielding two runs on five hits in her 87th career complete game. Riley finished the game with three extra-base hits (two doubles and a triple) and Reynolds and Tram each had two of Le Moyne's eight hits. Kelsey Molloy took the loss after giving up four runs on five hits over four innings pitched.
The Dolphins struck first in the nightcap with one run on two hits in the first inning. Case led off the game with a single to left field and then moved to second on a groundout. Two batters later, Trotta singled to right field to knock in Case.
The Yellow Jackets evened the score in the bottom of the first on one hit and one Le Moyne error. Lopez-Perez reached on an error by the catcher to start the inning and then moved to second base. Following a pair of outs, shortstop Haley Marchand then singled to right field to plate Lopez-Perez.
Le Moyne regained the lead in the top of the third with one run on three hits. Case, Capuano and Riley opened the frame with singles to left, left and center, respectively. Case then scored on a groundout back to the pitcher by Trotta.
Claflin allowed just the unearned run to earn her second victory of the season, while striking out one batter. Harrison earned her fourth career save by retiring all three batters she faced in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jillian Bedard took the loss for the Yellow Jackets after giving up two runs on six hits over seven innings in the circle.
Le Moyne (9-7, 2-0 NE-10), which played its first games in 13 days after having 12 games postponed or cancelled due to unplayable field conditions, is back in action on Thursday at The College of Saint Rose at 3:00 p.m. The games are the 13th and 15th in the year-long "Upstate Challenge" between the two institutions. Saint Rose currently leads the "Upstate Challenge" six to four. Each of Thursday's games count as one-quarter of a point, with the other half-point being determined next Wednesday in Syracuse.
