Springfield, Mass. – Sophomore shortstop Courtney Case (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon) recorded five hits and scored five runs to lead the Le Moyne College softball team to a sweep of American International College on Tuesday afternoon at Groff Field. The Dolphins won the opener, a Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division contest, 9-1, in five innings and then captured the nightcap, a non-conference matchup, 9-3.

Following two scoreless innings in the opening game, the Dolphins plated four runs on three hits and one AIC error in the third inning. Case reached on a fielding error by the shortstop to open the inning and then stole second base. Junior second baseman Meagan Malarkey (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) followed with a single to drive in Case. After a walk by sophomore center fielder Sabrina Riley (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) and a pair of outs, junior right fielder Kirsten Trotta (Wilmington, Del./Alexis I. Dupont) doubled to center to plate Malarkey and Riley. Senior catcher Kristie Capuano (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) followed with a single to center to center to drive in Trotta.

Le Moyne extended its lead to 6-0 in the fourth on one hit and one AIC error. With two outs and Case at second after reaching on an inning-opening throwing error by the shortstop, sophomore third baseman Kelly Mascari (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill/Buffalo) blasted a home run on a full count.

American International cut into its deficit in the fourth inning with one run on two hits. Catcher Jamie Mainez led off with a single to center and moved to second on a walk by third baseman Jorrdin Miller. After Mainez was retired at third as first baseman Alexa DiLeo reached on a fielder's choice, second baseman Lyndsey Letourneau singled to center to load the bases. Following a strikeout, designated player Lauren Tosi walked on four pitches to force in Miller.

The Dolphins took an eight run lead in the fifth with three runs on three hits and one AIC error. Capuano led off with a first-pitch single to left field and then took second on a throwing error by the second baseman as freshman pinch-hitter Rachelle Walters (North Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) reached on a fielder's choice. After an out, Case doubled to left center to knock in Capuano. Junior pinch-hitter Mackenzie Dreher (Hinckley, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) grounded out down the first base line to drive in Walters from third. Riley then singled to right field to plate Case.

Freshman pitcher Alexis Eastman (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) improved to 8-4 on the season after striking out six batters over the five innings, while yielding one run on three hits. Capuano finished the game with three of Le Moyne's 12 hits, while Case and Mascari each had two hits.

In the nightcap, the Dolphins scored twice on three hits in the first inning. Malarkey singled to left field with one out and moved to third on a double to right field by Riley. Mascari followed with a single to left field to drive in Malarkey and Riley.

Le Moyne extended its lead to six with four runs on three hits in the second inning. Freshman third baseman/second baseman Tess Andrews (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee) led off the frame with a first-pitch home run, her third of the season. Following a walk by junior left fielder Allison Reynolds (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) and a single by Case, Malarkey singled to drive in Reynolds. After an eight-pitch walk by Riley to load the bases and an out, Trotta lifted a sacrifice fly to right to plate Case. Malarkey then raced home on a wild pitch.

The Yellow Jackets cut their deficit in half with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the second. Miller led off with a single to the shortstop and came around to score on a double to center by DiLeo. After a walk by Letourneau and a single to left field by shortstop Yami Lopez-Perez to load the bases, right fielder Marlee Haigh singled to right field to drive in pinch-runner Shannon Millane. Letourneau then scored on a throwing error by the third baseman as designated player Jenna Costa reached on a fielder's choice.

After a pair of scoreless innings, the Dolphins added one run on one hit in the fifth. Andrews walked to open the frame, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on a triple to center by Case.

Le Moyne tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh on two hits. Walters walked to lead off the inning and came around to score on a two-out triple to right center by Case. Senior pinch-hitter Jillian Jacinth (West Babylon, N.Y./Babylon) followed with a single to left field to plate Case with the final run of the game.

Junior righty Toni Secreti (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Westhill/Herkimer C.C.) recorded three strikeouts to earn her ninth win of the season, while yielding three runs (two earned) on 10 hits. Case tallied three of her team's 12 hits, while Malarkey and Riley each had two. Jillian Bedard took the loss for the Yellow Jackets after giving up nine runs on 12 hits and six walks, while striking out six.

Le Moyne (18-11, 10-7 NE-10, 9-6 SW), which has won three of its five Southwest Division series, closes out the regular season at Southern Connecticut State University on Friday (3:00 p.m.) and Saturday (12:00 p.m.). Le Moyne's playoff scenarios are listed below.


--If Le Moyne goes 3-0 in the three Southwest Division games AND Adelphi goes 1-2 or 0-3 against American International, the Dolphins will grab the top seed in the Southwest Division and a bye into the Northeast-10 Championships semifinals.

--If Le Moyne goes 3-0 AND Adelphi goes 3-0 or 2-1, the Dolphins will claim the second seed in the Southwest Division and a bye into the second round of the Northeast-10 Championships.

--If Le Moyne goes 2-1 or 1-2, the Dolphins will claim the third seed and a home game in the first round against the fourth seed on Tuesday, April 29 at 3:00 p.m.

--If Le Moyne goes 0-3 AND New Haven goes 2-1, 1-2 or 0-3 against Saint Rose, Southern Connecticut will claim the third seed and the Dolphins will be the fourth seed and return to Southern Connecticut for the first round.

--If Le Moyne goes 0-3 AND New Haven goes 3-0, Southern Connecticut will be the third seed, New Haven will be the fourth seed and the Dolphins won't qualify for the NE-10 Championships.