West Haven, Conn. – The Le Moyne College softball team rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat the University of New Haven, 9-7, in nine innings in the opening game of a Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at the UNH Softball Field. The Chargers won the nightcap, 2-0.
The Dolphins got on the scoreboard first in the opener with a run on one hit. Junior shortstop
Courtney Case (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon) led off the game with a single to the second baseman, stole second and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. After a strikeout and a walk, Case scored as junior center fielder
Sabrina Riley (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) reached on a fielder's choice.
New Haven evened the score in the bottom of the first on three hits. Center fielder Jen Palase led off with a single to third base, advanced to second on a one-out single to center by first baseman Kristine Liptack and then scored on a single to right by third baseman Taylor Luzzi.
The Chargers took the lead in the third with three runs on three hits. After singles to center by Palase and catcher Marissa Colby to start the frame, Liptack launched a home run to left field.
Le Moyne cut into its deficit in the fourth with one run on one hit and one New Haven error. Riley reached second on a fielding error by the left fielder to open the inning. After a single by junior catcher
Emily Bagley (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) and a strikeout, Riley scored as senior first baseman
Cara Cawley (Endwell, N.Y./Maine-Endwell) reached on a fielder's choice.
New Haven got the run back in the bottom of the fourth on two hits. Second baseman Gabby DeLeo led off with a single to right field, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on a two-out single to center by Palase.
The Dolphins countered with one run on two hits in the fifth. Case singled to center with one out and then stole second with two outs. Junior designated player
Kelly Mascari (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) followed with a single to right to plate Case.
New Haven took its largest lead of the game after scoring twice in the fifth on two hits and one Le Moyne error. Luzzi singled to second with one out and moved to second with two outs as right fielder Tori Schiebe reached on a fielding error by the third baseman. After a passed ball, DeLeo singled to right center to plate Luzzi and Schiebe.
Le Moyne knotted the score at seven apiece in the sixth with four runs on four hits. Bagley walked to open the frame and then sophomore second baseman
Tess Andrews (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee). After a fly out and a single to the right fielder by freshman third baseman
Lauren Zazzaro (Southington, Conn./Southington) to load the bases, senior left fielder
Allison Reynolds (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) singled to the pitcher to plate Bagley. Case followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Andrews. Freshman pinch-hitter
Madison DeRita (Higganum, Conn./Mercy) then doubled to right center to knock in Zazzaro and Reynolds.
Following five scoreless half innings combined, the Dolphins scored the winning runs in the top of the ninth with one hit and one New Haven error. Case walked to start the inning and then advanced to second on an error by the third baseman as senior right fielder
Kirsten Trotta (Wilmington, Del./Alexis I. Dupont) reached on a fielder's choice on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Following a successful sacrifice bunt by Mascari to move Case and Trotta up a base, Riley lifted a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Case with the go-ahead run. Bagley followed with a single to center to plate Trotta.
Sophomore righty
Alexis Eastman (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) earned her team-best 10th win of the season in the circle after tossing four and one-third scoreless innings out of the bullpen, while striking out three and yielding just two hits. Case, Bagley and Andrews each had two of Le Moyne's 10 hits in the game. Nicole King suffered her second loss in as many days after yielding two unearned runs over three and two-thirds innings.
In the nightcap, the Chargers scored the only run they would need on two hits in the first inning. Colby singled to center with one out, stole second, moved to third on a single by Liptack and then scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Luzzi.
New Haven doubled its lead in the second on three hits. Palase led off with a single to left, advanced to second on a single to center by Colby and then scored on a one-out single to the shortstop by Luzzi.
Eastman suffered the loss after giving up two runs and eight hits over six innings, while failing to strike out a batter for the first time in 30 career starts. Victoria Cabral earned her 12th win of the season after striking out six over seven scoreless innings, while allowing just one hit. Case singled to left with one out in the sixth to break up her no-hitter.
Le Moyne (19-12, 7-6 NE-10, 6-5 SW) completes its non-conference schedule on Tuesday with a home doubleheader against Mercyhurst University at 3:00 p.m.
