Albany, N.Y. – Center fielder Kari Bird had five hits to lead The College of Saint Rose to a doubleheader sweep of the Le Moyne College softball team on Wednesday afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division action at Cathy Haker Field. The Golden Knights won the opening game, 6-5, while holding on for a 3-2 win in the nightcap.

With the victories, Saint Rose earns one-half point and takes a 7.0 to 5.5 lead over the Dolphins in the year-long "Upstate Challenge" between the two institutions. The remaining one-half point will be decided in Syracuse on Tuesday.
 
The Dolphins got on the scoreboard first in the opening game with one run on two hits in the first inning. Junior right fielder Kirsten Trotta (Wilmington, Del./Alexis I. Dupont) drew a walk with one out and then moved to second on a single up the middle by sophomore center fielder Sabrina Riley (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park). Sophomore third baseman Kelly Mascari (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill/Buffalo) followed with a single to right center to drive in Trotta.

Le Moyne extended its lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs on three hits in the third inning. Sophomore shortstop Courtney Case (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon) led off with a double to left field and Trotta followed with a single to the third baseman. After a sacrifice bunt by Riley and a strikeout, freshman pitcher Alexis Eastman (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) singled to drive in Case and Trotta.

The Golden Knights took the lead in the bottom of the third with four runs on four hits. Bird led off with a home run to left field. Following an out, shortstop Danielle Brusca walked, second baseman Taylor Solomon singled to the shortstop and third baseman Carly Wood singled to left field to load the bases. First baseman Tina Karaqi then doubled to left center to clear the bases.

Le Moyne evened the score in the fourth on two hits. Junior left fielder Allison Reynolds (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) led off with a single to shortstop and advanced to third on a pair of sacrifice bunts. Case then singled to left field to plate Reynolds.

Saint Rose took the lead with two runs on two hits and a Le Moyne error in the bottom of the fifth. Solomon led off with double to left field and took third on a single to left field by Wood, who moved up to second on the throw home. Following a Le Moyne pitching change, Solomon scored as Karaqi reached on an error by the second baseman. Catcher Zoe DuBois then lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to knock in Wood.

The Dolphins got one run back in the sixth without a hit, but left the tying run at third base. Junior first baseman Cara Cawley (Endwell, N.Y./Maine-Endwell) reached on catcher's interference to open the inning and then moved to second as Reynolds reached on an error by the first baseman. Following a sacrifice bunt, junior pinch-hitter Mackenzie Dreher (Hinckley, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) lifted a sacrifice fly to center to drive home sophomore pinch-runner Morgan Hope (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley).

Eastman suffered the loss in the circle after yielding six runs (four earned) on seven hits over four-plus innings, while striking out five batters. Case and Riley each recorded two of Le Moyne's eight hits in the game. Renee Vaiano earned the victory after striking out four batters over seven innings, while giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits.

In the nightcap, the Golden Knights struck first with a run on two hits in the first inning. Brusca led off with a single to left field, but was retired at second as Solomon reached on fielder's choice. Following a single to right center by Wood and a passed ball, Solomon scored on a ground out by Karaqi.

Saint Rose added two runs in the bottom of the second on two hits. After catcher Alexis Williams singled to left center to open the frame, first baseman Taylor Snyder blasted a two-run homer to left center.

Le Moyne cut into its deficit with one run on two hits in the top of the fourth. Riley drew a walk to open the frame and moved to second on a sac bunt by Mascari. After a single by sophomore designated player Emily Bagley (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) and a ground out, Cawley singled to right field to knock in Riley.

The Dolphins trimmed their deficit to one in the sixth with one run on one hit. Bagley led off with a double to center and was replaced at second by Hope. Following a sac bunt, Cawley grounded out to second to drive in Hope.

Junior Toni Secreti (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Westhill/Herkimer C.C.) took the loss in the circle after yielding three runs on nine hits over six innings. Bagley finished the game with three hits, while Case added two. Nicole Wickham recorded the win for the Golden Knights after yielding two runs on seven hits, while striking out two.

Le Moyne (7-6, 1-4 NE-10), which was swept by the Golden Knights for the first time in 19 all-time doubleheaders between the programs, returns to action on Thursday at Adelphi University at 2:00 p.m.