Lowell, Mass. – Senior shortstop Courtney Case (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon) had three hits and scored three runs to lead the fourth-seeded Le Moyne College softball team to a 13-5 win over second seeded Saint Anselm College in the second round of the Northeast-10 Conference Championships on Thursday afternoon at UMass Lowell's River View Field. With the win, the Dolphins advanced to the NE10 semifinals, where they fell to top-seeded Adelphi University, 10-9.

Le Moyne is now 29-17 on the season after the 1-1 day. The Dolphins now await word on a potential NCAA Championships berth. The NCAA will release the eight-team regional field on Monday at 10:00 a.m. on NCAA.com. The Dolphins were ranked ninth in this week's East Region rankings.

Saint Anselm, which finished in second place in the NE10 Northeast Division, opened the game's scoring with a run on two hits in the second inning. Catcher Megan Murrell led off with a single up the middle, moved to third on a double to center by designated player Erin Thompson and scored on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Shannon Colson.

The Hawks doubled their lead in the fourth inning on two hits. Murrell doubled to start the frame and was replaced at second by pinch-runner Karoline Leavitt. After a pair of groundouts and a walk by first baseman Shannon McLaughlin, second baseman Madison Borrelli singled to right field to drive in Leavitt.

Le Moyne exploded for 10 runs on seven hits and one Saint Anselm error in the top of the sixth inning. Case led off with a home run to right field, her second round-tripper of the season. After a fly out, senior center fielder Sabrina Riley (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) blasted her second home run of the season over the fence in left to tie the score. Senior third baseman Kelly Mascari (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill/Buffalo) then reached on an error by the third baseman and was replaced at first by freshman pinch-runner Allie DeGrouchy (Bowie, Md./St. John's College High). After freshman pitcher/first baseman Peyton Bellrose (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) reached on a fielder's choice, sophomore right fielder Madison DeRita (Higganum, Conn./Mercy) doubled to left center to drive in DeGrouchy and force a pitching change. Following a pop out after senior pinch-hitter Emily Bagley (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) walked on four pitches to load the bases, sophomore left fielder Lauren Zazzaro (Southington, Conn./Southington) doubled to center to clear the bases. Case then doubled to center to plate Zazzaro, while freshman catcher Ally Nicolosi (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) followed with a double of her own to center to knock in Case for an 8-2 lead. After walks by Riley and Mascari to load the bases again, Bellrose doubled through the right side to drive in Nicolosi and Riley with the final runs of the inning.

Saint Anselm got one run back in the bottom of the sixth on two hits. Colson doubled to left center with one out took third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout by McLaughlin.

Le Moyne extended its lead to 13-3 with three runs on four hits in the seventh inning. Zazzaro started the output with a two-out single down the left field line and Case followed with a single through the right side. Nicolosi then doubled to left center to plate Zazzaro and Case. Riley followed with a single through the left side to knock in Nicolosi.

Saint Anselm scored twice in the bottom of the seventh, but could not cut into its deficit any further. Third baseman Michaela Kane singled to center with one out and took second on a passed ball. After a walk by left fielder Maggie Murphy and a groundout, Thompson singled to right to drive in Kane and Murphy.

Junior righty Alexis Eastman (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) earned the win in relief after tossing the final three innings, while yielding three runs. DeRita joined Case with three hits, all of which were doubles, while Nicolosi, Riley and Zazzaro each had two hits and two runs scored. Sam Hennequin suffered the loss after giving up the first five runs of the game over five and one-third innings.

In the semifinal against Adelphi, the Dolphins struck first with two runs on two hits in the first inning. Case led off with a single to the shortstop and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Nicolosi. After a walk by Riley, Mascari singled up the middle to drive in Case and move Riley to third. Bellrose then grounded out to knock in Riley.

Adelphi got the runs back in the bottom of the inning. After catcher/designated player Nicoletta Cuccio walked with one out and stole second with two outs, second baseman Nicole Camera homered to center field.

Le Moyne regained the lead in the second with three runs on five hits. Freshman first baseman Taylor Artley (York Haven, Pa./Red Land) led off with a bunt single to third base and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Freshman second baseman Jillian McManus (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) followed with a double to left to plate Artley. Zazzaro followed with a single to left center to knock in McManus and then came around to score on a double to left center.

The Dolphins extended their lead to 6-2 with a run in the third on two hits and an Adelphi error. Bellrose led off with a double to left center, DeRita reached on an error by the shortstop and then Artley had another bunt single to load the bases. McManus then flied out to the left fielder, who made a diving catch, to drive in Bellrose.

Le Moyne added three runs in the fourth on two hits and one Adelphi error to push its lead to 9-2. With one out, Mascari blasted her 10th home run of the season well over the fence in left field. The homer marked the 24th of her three-year career as a Dolphin, which moves her into a three-way tie for second on the program's career chart. Following an Adelphi pitching change and an out, DeRita reached on another error by the shortstop. Sophomore pinch-hitter Tess Andrews (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee) followed with a home run to center.

Adelphi started its comeback in the bottom of the fifth with four runs on six hits and one Le Moyne error. Pinch-hitter Christina Rizzi led off with a double to left center and came around to score on a single to center by shortstop Danielle Cutuli, who advanced to second on an error by the center fielder. After center fielder Krista King singled up the middle to move Cutuli to third, Cuccio singled to drive in Cutuli. Third baseman/first baseman Brenna Martini then drilled her conference-best 14th home run of the season to center field to make the score 9-6 and force a Le Moyne pitching change.

The Panthers took the lead in the bottom of the sixth with four more runs on four hits and one Le Moyne error. Rizzi doubled to left field with one out and then Cutuli reached on an error by the shortstop. After King singled to center to load the bases, Cuccio singled up the middle to knock in Rizzi. Martini then drew a walk to force in Cutuli and make the score 9-8 in favor of the Dolphins. Camera then singled to left field to drive in King and Cuccio with the tying and go-ahead runs.

Bellrose took the loss after giving up four runs (three earned) over the final one and two-thirds innings. Case tallied three hits in this contest also to increase her career total to 233, which is just two shy of Gold Wave Hall of Famer Sarah Reed's program record. Mascari, Artley, McManus and Zazzaro each finished with two hits and one run scored+6. Kristin Fealy earned the win out of the bullpen after striking out three over the final three and two-thirds, while giving up two unearned runs.