Erie, Pa. – Freshman righty Peyton Bellrose (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) earned the win in the first game and blasted a game-winning home run in the seventh inning of game two to lead the Le Moyne College softball team to a sweep of Mercyhurst University on Wednesday afternoon. The Dolphins won the first game 3-2 and captured the nightcap, 4-2.

The Dolphins opened the day's scoring with one run on one hit in the first inning. Senior shortstop Courtney Case (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon) led off with an infield single, stole second, took third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by senior center fielder Sabrina Riley (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park).

Le Moyne doubled its lead in the second inning on a pair of hits. Bellrose led off with a single back to the pitcher. After moving to third on a one-out double to right center by senior catcher Emily Bagley (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster), Bellrose scored on a groundout by sophomore right fielder Madison DeRita (Higganum, N.Y./Mercy).

Mercyhurst cut its deficit in half in the bottom of the third with one hit and one Le Moyne error. Third baseman Cassandra Egelston drew a walk to open the frame and moved to second on a groundout. After a pop out and dropped foul ball, second baseman Emily Hair singled to left field to drive in Egelston.

The Dolphins got the run back in the top of the fourth on two hits. Bellrose singled down the right field line to open the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Bagley reached on an error, DeRita singled to the shortstop to knock in Bellrose.

The Lakers pulled within one in the bottom of the seventh, but the potential tying run was retired at third to end the game. Left fielder Lindsey Parese and pinch-hitter Emily Quinn walked with one out. After Egelston singled to right field to load the bases, Parese scored on a sacrifice fly to center by center fielder Rachel DiBartolomeo.

Bellrose improved to 6-1 on the season after striking out one and scattering six hits. Case finished the game with three of Le Moyne's nine hits, while Bellrose had two. Anna Cochis took the loss for the Lakers after allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits over seven innings.

As they did in the first game, the Dolphins scored one run in the first inning of the nightcap. Case led off with a double, moved to third on a single by freshman catcher Ally Nicolosi (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) and scored on a wild pitch with one out.

Le Moyne added a run in the third on two hits. Riley singled through the left side with one out, took second on a single by Bellrose, stole third and then scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by senior third baseman Kelly Mascari (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill/Buffalo).

Mercyhurst tied the score at two in the bottom of the sixth inning. DiBartolomeo reached on a throwing error by the pitcher to start the inning and then stole second. After a groundout, Hair launched a home run to even the score.

Le Moyne regained the lead in the top of the seventh. After Riley walked with one out, Bellrose blasted a home run to left center to put the Dolphins up 4-2.

Junior Alexis Eastman (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) struck out five to earn her 10th victory of the season, while scattering four hits and yielding two runs (one earned). Nicolosi, Bellrose and senior left fielder Morgan Hope (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley) each had two hits in the contest. Heather Nye suffered the loss after allowing four runs and nine hits, while striking out two.

Le Moyne (16-6), which returned to the diamond for the first time in 18 days, opens Northeast-10 Conference action on Saturday with a doubleheader at Adelphi University at 12:00 p.m.