Syracuse, N.Y. – Senior pitcher Alexis Eastman (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) went 6-for-7 at the plate and struck out 10 in the circle 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 the Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex. The Dolphins won the opener, 10-3, and took the nightcap, 6-4.
 
Le Moyne started the scoring in the opener with two runs on three hits in the first inning. Graduate student center fielder Kelsey Johnson (Greece, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy/Buffalo/Syracuse) led off with a single to center and came around to score on a double to left center by sophomore catcher Ally Nicolosi (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn). After a pair of outs, junior left fielder Madison DeRita (Higganum, Conn./Mercy) singled through the right side to plate Nicolosi.

The Dolphins added two runs on three hits again in the second. Sophomore first baseman Taylor Artley (York Haven, Pa./Red Land) walked with one out and moved to second on a two-out single down the left field line by Johnson. Nicolosi followed with a single up the middle to drive in Artley. Junior right fielder Lauren Zazzaro (Southington, Conn./Southington) then singled to the shortstop to knock in Johnson.

After being held without a hit for the first three innings, the Golden Knights had three hits and scored three runs in the fourth. Shortstop Ryane Brush led off with a single over the shortstop's glove for the first hit. After an out and a single to the pitcher by designated player Dana Nicoletti, second baseman Savanna Liverio homered to straightaway center to get Saint Rose within 4-3.

The Dolphins answered with five runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth. After Nicolosi singled to center with one out and Zazzaro drew a walk on four pitches, sophomore third baseman Peyton Bellrose (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) doubled to right center to drive in Nicolosi and Zazzaro. Two batters later, Eastman singled up the middle to plate Bellrose. Following a walk by freshman designated player Olivia Littman (Newfane, N.Y./Newfane), Artley doubled to right center to knock in Eastman and Littman.

Le Moyne finished off the game's scoring with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman pinch-hitter Kelsey White (Middletown, Conn./Middletown) walked to open the frame and was replaced at first by sophomore second baseman Jillian McManus (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston). After moving to third on a pair of wild pitches, McManus scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Nicolosi.

Eastman earned her 20th victory of the season after striking out nine in her 20th complete game of the year, while yielding three runs and five hits. With the win, Eastman becomes the first pitcher in the program's history to win at least 20 games in three different seasons. Nicolosi and Eastman each finished the game with three hits with Nicolosi posting three RBI and two runs scored, while Johnson and Zazzaro each had two hits. Thalia Santiago suffered the loss after allowing 10 runs and 13 hits.

In the nightcap, Saint Rose struck first with a run on two hits in the second inning. First baseman Briana Bowen singled to right field with two outs, stole second and scored on a single up the middle by Liverio.

The Dolphins took the lead in the bottom of the third with a pair of runs on two hits and one Saint Rose error. Artley singled to the shortstop to open the frame, moved to second on a passed ball, took third on a groundout and scored on a groundout by Johnson. Nicolosi then drew a walk, advanced to second on a single up the middle by Zazzaro and scored as Bellrose reached on a throwing error by the second baseman.

The Golden Knights regained the lead in the top of the fourth with three runs on two hits and one Le Moyne error. Center fielder Astasia Myler reached on an error by the third baseman with one out and moved to second on a single to center by Bowen. After Liverio was hit by a pitch to load the bases, third baseman Beth Jones doubled to right center to clear the bases and give Saint Rose a 4-2 lead.

Le Moyne responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning on three hits. Eastman led off with a double to right field and advanced to third on a groundout. After walks by Artley and Johnson around a strikeout to load the bases, Nicolosi singled to center to drive in Eastman and Artley and tie the score at four. Zazzaro then lined the ball off the shortstop's glove and into center field to plate Johnson and Nicolosi.

Freshman righty Lauren Nichols (Syracuse, N.Y./Solvay) earned her sixth win of the season after striking out three over five innings, while yielding four runs on five hits. Eastman collected her fourth save of the campaign after tossing the final two innings. Eastman went 3-for-3 at the plate in the contest, while Nicolosi and Zazzaro each had two hits and two RBI.
 
Le Moyne (31-10, 14-7 NE10, 11-4 SW), which has won 30 games in the regular season for the first time since the 2009 team went 36-10 in the regular season, closes out the regular season with a three-game series at the University of New Haven on Saturday and Sunday. The Dolphins and Chargers will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12:00 p.m. and a single game on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. The Dolphins and Pace University are tied for second place in the division (11-4) with each having three games remaining. If the teams are still tied on Sunday evening, the Dolphins will be the second seed in next week's NE10 Championships after winning the season series Easter Weekend.