Syracuse, N.Y. – Junior second baseman Jillian McManus (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) drove in runs in three innings and sophomore pitcher Lauren Nichols (Syracuse, N.Y./Solvay) tossed five scoreless innings to lead the Le Moyne College softball team to an 8-0 win in five innings in the first game of a Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division doubleheader on Friday at the Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex. The Chargers took the nightcap, 8-3.

The Dolphins scored the only run it would need in the opener as part of a three-run second inning. After redshirt junior third baseman Chelsie Delperuto (Syracuse, N.Y./Solvay/UMBC) and senior right fielder Lauren Zazzaro (Southington, Conn./Southington) singled through the left side with one out, senior left fielder Madison DeRita (Higganum, Conn./Mercy) doubled to center field to drive in Delperuto. Following an infield single by junior first baseman Taylor Artley (York Haven, Pa./Red Land) to load the bases, McManus lifted a sacrifice fly to right to knock in Zazzaro. DeRita then scored on a double steal with Artley.

Le Moyne scored four runs in the third to take a 7-0 lead. Freshman center fielder Aubrie Williams (Kirkville, N.Y./East Syracuse-Minoa) led off with a single to the shortstop, but was retired at second as sophomore shortstop Kaily LaForce (Binghamton, N.Y./Binghamton) reached on a fielder's choice. Following a single up the middle by junior designated player/pitcher/first baseman Peyton Bellrose (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool), Delperuto doubled to center field to plate LaForce. After a strikeout and a walk by DeRita to load the bases, sophomore pinch-hitter Olivia Littman (Newfane, N.Y./Newfane) singled up the middle to drive in Bellrose and Delperuto. McManus then doubled to center to knock in DeRita.

The Dolphins closed out the game with a run in the fifth. With two outs, McManus launched a home run to left center to end the game.

Nichols recorded seven strikeouts to earn her 10th win of the season, while yielding just three hits. Williams, Delperuto and McManus each recorded two hits in the game. Ava Fitzmaurice took the loss after giving up seven runs and eight hits over two and two-thirds innings.

Le Moyne opened the scoring in the nightcap with a run in the second inning. With one out, Delperuto hit her second home run of the season to left field.

New Haven took the lead in the fifth inning with four runs. Center fielder Sierra Whitlock led off with a double down the left field line and came around to score on a single up the middle by shortstop/catcher Mya Case. After third baseman/shortstop Taylor Luzzi singled up the middle and a pitching change, catcher/designated player Jovanna Hillman walked to load the bases. Case then raced home on a passed ball. Following a walk by designated player/third baseman Rachel Crafts to load the bases again, Luzzi scored on a wild pitch. After the inning's first out, second baseman Madison Derosia reached on a fielding error by the third baseman, which allowed pinch-runner Nahtali Simpson to score.

The Chargers added a run in the sixth. Whitlock started the inning off again with a single through the left side and moved to second on a wild pitch. After an out, Luzzi doubled to left field to drive in Whitlock.

New Haven pushed its lead to 8-1 with three runs in the seventh. Derosia doubled down the left field line with one out and came around to score on a double to right center by first baseman Melissa Bike. Following a walk by left fielder Catherine Vaughan, Whitlock singled to center to knock in Bike. After a fly out, Luzzi singled through the left side to plate Vaughan.

The Dolphins threatened to come back in the bottom of the seventh, but were only able to score a pair of runs. Freshman pinch-hitter Victoria Catalano (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) reached on an error by the shortstop to open the inning and DeRita followed with a single through the left side. Freshman catcher Cassidy Barrett (Apalachin, N.Y./Vestal) then singled to center to load the bases. Following a pair of outs, Littman walked on four pitches to force in Zazzaro, who re-entered the game to run for Catalano. LaForce then singled to the shortstop to drive in DeRita, while the first baseman threw out a runner at the plate to end the game.

Sophomore Skylar Rechner (Lacombe, Alberta/Lacombe Composite/Corning C.C.) took the loss after all three batters she faced in the fifth inning came around to score. DeRita and Barrett each had two of Le Moyne's six hits in the game. Mia Iodice earned the win for the Chargers after striking out three over seven innings, while yielding three runs (one earned).

Le Moyne (19-14, 11-5 NE10, 9-3 SW), which clinched a berth in the upcoming NE10 Championships with the game-one win, completes the series on Saturday at 10:00 p.m. Prior to the first pitch, DeRita and Zazzaro will be honored by the Dolphin Athletic Association for their contributions to the program.