Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Junior first baseman/pitcher Peyton Bellrose (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) hit a walk-off home run to give the Le Moyne College softball team a 7-4 win over Southern Connecticut State University on Friday afternoon at the Snowbird Freeze Out Tournament at Grand Park. The Dolphins fell in their season opener, 8-3, to Shippensburg University.

The Dolphins opened the scoring against Southern Connecticut State with four runs on three hits in the first inning. Senior center fielder Lauren Zazzaro (Southington, Conn./Southington) walked with two outs, stole second and came around to score on a single by Bellrose. After a double to left by senior left fielder Madison DeRita (Higganum, Conn./Mercy), redshirt junior third baseman Chelsie Delperuto (Syracuse, N.Y./Solvay/UMBC) launched a three-run home run for a 4-0 lead.

The Owls cut their deficit in half with two runs on two hits and one error in the top of the fourth inning. First baseman Jayden Delaporta walked with one out and moved to third on a single to left by shortstop Julia Lener. Delaporta then scored on a throwing error by the second baseman following a line out. Designated player Liz DeRosa followed with a double to center to plate Lener.

Southern Connecticut State added a run on one hit and two Le Moyne errors in the sixth. Lener led off with a single to center and advanced to second on an error by the center fielder. Catcher Jacqueline Dumont then reached on fielding error by the pitcher. Lener then scored from third on a groundout by DeRosa.

The Owls evened the score at four in the top of the seventh. Center fielder Maria Zecena led off with a single to right and moved to second on a one-out single by pinch-hitter Delany Turner. Two batters later, Lener singled to right center to drive in Zecena with the tying run.

Le Moyne won the game with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Junior catcher/designated player Ally Nicolosi (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) doubled to right center with one out. After Zazzaro walked with two outs, Bellrose drilled her seventh career home run for the win.

Sophomore righty Lauren Nichols (Syracuse, N.Y./Solvay) went the distance in the circle to earn her first win of the season, while striking out three and yielding four runs (three earned) on seven hits. Bellrose finished the game with three hits and four RBI, while Zazzaro had two hits, two walks and scored twice. Jazmyn Martinez suffered the loss after giving up seven runs and eight hits over six and two-thirds innings.

Shippensburg started the scoring with a run in the top of the second on two hits. Third baseman Courtney Coy led off with a single to left, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, took third on a single to left by right fielder Meghan Klee and then scored on a sacrifice fly to left by pitcher Taryn Wilson.

The Dolphins took the lead in the bottom of the second with two runs on two hits. DeRita led off with a home run to tie the score at one. Junior right fielder Mia Pollino (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua Academy) and junior first baseman Taylor Artley (York Haven, Pa./Red Land) followed with walks. After an out, Nicolosi doubled to left field, but Pollino was thrown out at home. Artley then raced home on a passed ball for a 2-1 lead.

The Raiders took the lead back with a pair of runs on two hits. Center fielder Kayla Bonawitz led off with a single up the middle, second baseman Morgan DeFeo walked and catcher Micaela Ghanayem was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After an out, Coy doubled to center to drive in Bonawitz and DeFeo for a 3-2 edge.

Shippensburg extended its lead with two runs on two hits and an error in the top of the fifth. First Hannah Marsteller singled, Coy doubled and shortstop Grace Palmieri was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Klee then lifted a sacrifice fly to left to drive in Marsteller. Coy then scored on an error as Wilson reached on a fielder's choice.

Le Moyne got one run back in the bottom of the fifth. Bellrose and Delperuto singled and moved up on a passed ball to start the inning. After an out, Bellrose scored on a passed ball.

The Raiders concluded their scoring in the seventh with three runs on three hits and one error. Pinch-hitter Maddie McConnell walked with one out and advanced to third on a double to right center by Palmieri. Klee then doubled to center to drive in McConnell and Palmieri. Wilson followed with a single to right to move Klee to third, while Klee scored on a fielding error by the right fielder.

Nichols took the loss after yielding three runs and five hits in two and one-third innings. Wilson earned the win after striking out 10, while allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits.

Le Moyne (1-1) continues play at the Snowbird Freeze Out Tournament on Saturday by taking on Lock Haven University at 12:00 p.m. and Kutztown University at 2:00 p.m. at the Ned Donkle Complex.