Syracuse, N.Y. – Graduate student center fielder Kelsey Johnson (Greece, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy/Buffalo/Syracuse) had two hits and scored the winning run as the Le Moyne College softball team registered a 4-3 win over Adelphi University in the first game of a Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex. The Panthers took the nightcap, 10-2.

Adelphi opened the day's scoring with a run in the first inning on two hits. Center fielder Krista King led off with a single to left and moved to second on a one-out single to left by third baseman Brenna Martini, the two-time reigning Northeast-10 Player of the Year. After a strikeout and a walk to first baseman Emily Turney to load the bases, shortstop Kailah Konkel drew a walk on seven pitches to force in King.

Le Moyne answered back with a run in the bottom of the inning. Junior right fielder Lauren Zazzaro (Southington, Conn./Southington) walked with two outs and came around to score on a double to left by sophomore third baseman/pitcher/first baseman Peyton Bellrose (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool).

The Dolphins took the lead with three runs in the second on three hits and an Adelphi error. Sophomore first baseman Taylor Artley (York Haven, Pa./Red Land) singled to third base with one out and moved to second on a two-out single to right by Johnson. After sophomore catcher Ally Nicolosi (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) singled to the third baseman to load the bases, Zazzaro drew another walk, this time only on four pitches, to force in Artley. Bellrose then reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, which allowed Johnson and Nicolosi to score.

The Panthers cut into their deficit with a run in the fourth. Right fielder Lauren O'Neill led off with a single to right and King followed with a single to third base. After a double steal and a groundout, Martini was intentionally walked to load the bases. Second baseman Nicole Camera followed with a sacrifice fly to the second baseman to knock in O'Neill.

Adelphi scored once in the sixth to get within one, but left the tying run at third base. O'Neill walked to start the frame and moved to second on a one-out sacrifice bunt by catcher/left fielder Nicoletta Cuccio. After Martini was intentionally walked again, Camera singled to center to drive in O'Neill, while Martini took third on an error by the center fielder.

Senior righty Alexis Eastman (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) earned her 18th victory of the year after striking out nine, while yielding three runs on seven hits. Ally Muller took the loss after giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits over six innings, while striking out five.

In game two, the Panthers scored in the first inning again. King led off with a single to left and moved to second on a single by Cuccio before being retired at third as Martini reached on a fielder's choice. After Camera reached on a fielder's choice, Cuccio scored on a wild pitch on ball four to Turney.

Adelphi scored once in the second on two hits and a Le Moyne error. O'Neill singled off the pitcher's leg with one out, took second on a wild pitch and then scored as King reached on an error by the shortstop.

In the third, Adelphi scored three times on three hits. Turney walked to open the frame and came around to score on a triple to right center by shortstop Lauren Sandelier. After a single by catcher Christina Rizzi and a groundout, O'Neill grounded out to the shortstop to drive in Sandelier. King then singled to the shortstop to plate Rizzi from third and force a pitching change.

The Panthers pushed across two more runs in the fourth on three hits. Martini led off with a single to the pitcher, took second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Camera then doubled to left to knock in Martini. After a strikeout, Sandelier singled to left field to drive in Camera.

Le Moyne broke through in the bottom of the sixth as Zazzaro hit her eighth home run of the season off the scoreboard in right center with one out.

Adelphi answered with three runs on four hits and one error in the seventh. King singled to left with one out and took second on a throwing error by the left fielder. After Cuccio walked, Martini singled to the third baseman to drive in King, while Cuccio advanced to third on the throw to first. Camera followed with a single to third base to knock in Cuccio. After a walk by Turney to load the bases, Sandelier singled to center to plate Martini with her team's final run.

Le Moyne ended the day's scoring with a run in the seventh on three hits. Johnson singled to right with one out, took second on a single, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a single to left by Bellrose.

Bellrose took the loss in the circle after giving up five runs on seven hits and three walks over two and two-thirds innings. Zazzaro recorded the team's only multi-hit performance with two hits. Nicole Mengel collected the win after going five and one-third innings, while yielding a run and four hits.

Le Moyne (27-9, 12-6 NE10, 9-3 SW) and the Panthers, who are tied for first place in the Southwest Division with a .750 winning percentage, conclude their three-game series on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. The three Dolphins in their final year of eligibility (Johnson, Eastman and Tess Andrews (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee)) will be honored by the Dolphin Athletic Association at 11:40 a.m. for their contributions to the program.