Albany, N.Y. – Seniors Sabrina Riley (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) and Courtney Case (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon) combined for 11 hits to lead the Le Moyne College softball team to a sweep of The College of Saint Rose in a Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division doubleheader on Thursday afternoon at Cathy Haker Field. The Dolphins won the opening game, 3-1, and took the nightcap, 10-5.

With the victories, Le Moyne increases its lead in the year-long "Upstate Challenge" between the two institutions to 13.0-2.5.

Saint Rose started the scoring in the first game with a run on three hits in the second inning. Center fielder Astasia Myler led off with a single, took second on a single by designated player Jadyn Costello and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Taylor Solomon. Catcher Sydney Cimini then singled to drive in Myler.

The Dolphins answered with a run on two hits in the third. Sophomore left fielder Lauren Zazzaro (Southington, Conn./Southington) led off with a single and moved to second on a sac bunt by Case. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Zazzaro scored on a single by freshman catcher/designated player Ally Nicolosi (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn).

Le Moyne scored the winning runs in the top of the fifth on a pair of extra-base hits. After Riley doubled with two outs, senior third baseman Kelly Mascari (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill/Buffalo) blasted a home run for a 3-1 lead.

Junior Alexis Eastman (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) struck out eight over seven innings to earn her 12th victory of the season, while yielding just the one run and four hits. Riley registered three of Le Moyne's eight hits in the contest. Dana Nicoletti took the loss for the Golden Knights after allowing three runs and eight hits over seven innings, while striking out five.

The Dolphins got on the scoreboard first in the nightcap with a pair of runs on two hits. Case and sophomore right fielder Madison DeRita (Higganum, Conn./Mercy) drew back-to-back walks to start the game. Riley then singled to drive in Case. After a double play, freshman pitcher/first baseman Peyton Bellrose (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) singled to knock in DeRita.

Saint Rose answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame. After Nicoletti walked to start the inning, shortstop Carly Wood smacked a home run to tie the score.

Le Moyne regained the lead in the second inning with one run on two hits. Zazzaro singled with two outs, stole second and came around to score on a single by Case. With the hit, Case passed Emily Senko '03 for fourth place on the program's all-time hit list with her 213th.

The Golden Knights took the lead in the bottom of the third by using four hits to score three runs. Left fielder Katie Shevlin led off with a single and moved to second on a one-out single by Wood. After a groundout, Myler doubled to plate Shevlin and Wood and force a Le Moyne pitching change. Costello then singled to knock in Myler.

Le Moyne got one of the runs back in the fourth inning. Senior catcher Emily Bagley (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) was hit by a pitch to start the frame and then advanced all the way to third on a wild pitch. Following the inning's second out, Case singled to drive in Bagley.

The Dolphins exploded for six runs on six hits and two Saint Rose errors in the fifth inning. After Riley led off with a single, Mascari drilled her seventh home run of the season, which is tied for the second-most in the conference. Following a groundout, junior second baseman Tess Andrews (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee) and Bagley recorded back-to-back singles. After Andrews was retired at third as freshman designated player Jillian McManus (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) reached on a fielder's choice, Zazzaro doubled to drive in Bagley and McManus. Case followed with a single to plate Zazzaro. After DeRita reached on an error by the shortstop, Riley reached on a dropped fly ball by the center fielder, which allowed Case to score.

Eastman earned her conference-best 13th win of the year after tossing four and one-third scoreless innings, while striking out five to increase her conference-high total to 106. Case finished a game with four hits for the fourth time in her career, which is the most by a Dolphin over the last 15 seasons. Riley tallied three hits in the game, while Andrews and Zazzaro each recorded a pair. Roma Mazzariello gave up 10 runs (nine earned) and 14 hits to take the loss for Saint Rose.

Le Moyne (20-16, 4-9 NE10, 3-8 SW), which snapped a six-game losing streak, is back on the diamond on Saturday for a doubleheader at Southern Connecticut State University at 12:00 p.m.