New Haven, Conn. – Catcher/designated player Jacqueline Dumont drove in five runs to lead Southern Connecticut State University to a sweep of the Le Moyne College softball team in a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Pelz Field. The Owls won the opener, 5-3, and doubled up the Dolphins in the nightcap, 8-4.

As they did in all four games of the series, the Owls opened the scoring in the first game with two runs on one hit and one Le Moyne error in the first inning. Shortstop Sara Buscetto led off with a single up the middle, stole second and then stole third following a walk by center fielder Cailey Botteon. Right fielder Liz DeRosa then lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Buscetto. Following a Le Moyne error, first baseman Jayden Delaporta drove in Botteon with a groundout.

Southern Connecticut State extended its lead to 5-0 with three runs on three hits in the third inning. Buscetto led off with a single up the middle and then stole second. After a strikeout, DeRosa doubled to right center to knock in Buscetto for the second time in the game. Dumont followed with two-run home run down the left field line to force a pitching change.

Le Moyne cut into its deficit with three runs on three hits in the sixth inning, but could not get the tying run on base. Senior shortstop Kaily LaForce (Binghamton, N.Y./Binghamton) led off with a single through the left side and then stole second. After a walk by sophomore left fielder Jillian Dunn (Fiskdale, Mass./Tantasqua Regional) and a sacrifice bunt, graduate student first baseman Taylor Artley (York Haven, Pa./Red Land) reached on a bunt single to drive in LaForce. After a strikeout, freshman second baseman Brooke Nicolaos (Liverpool, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) recorded her first career hit, a double to left center, to knock in Dunn and junior pinch-runner Maddy Sehnert (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport). The next batter lined out to the pitcher to end the rally.

Freshman Lindsey Dobbs (Schenectady, N.Y./Colonie) took the loss in the circle in her collegiate debut after yielding five runs in two and one-third innings. Dunn and LaForce each recorded two hits. Jazmyn Martinez earned her second win of the series after striking out five over five and two-thirds innings. Jessica Perucki picked up the save by recording the final four outs.

In the nightcap, the Owls scored single runs in each of the first three innings. In the first inning, Botteon singled through the left side with one out, advanced to third on an error by the second baseman as DeRosa reached on a fielder's choice and then scored on a single by Dumont.

Left fielder Emily Lange drew a walk to open the second, advanced to third on a single by second baseman Lauryn Zubia, who then stole second. Following a strikeout, Buscetto lifted a sacrifice fly to right to drive in Lange.

DeRosa was hit by a pitch to start the third and advanced to second on a one-out single to center by catcher Morgan Tuscano. Following a single by Delaporta to load the bases, DeRosa scored as Lange reached on a fielder's choice.

Le Moyne cut into its deficit with a run on one hit and one Owls error in the fourth inning. Sophomore third baseman Kaycee Hawk (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker/UAlbany) led off with a double to right center and scored as junior catcher Cassidy Barrett (Apalachin, N.Y./Vestal) reached on an error by the shortstop with two outs.

The Owls blew the game open with five runs on five hits in the bottom of the fourth. Buscetto waked with one out and stole second before Botteon singled to third baes. Following an out, Dumont doubled to left field to knock in Buscetto and Botteon. After a single by Tuscano, Delaporta tripled to drive in Dumont and Tuscano, while scoring on the throw.

The Dolphins got three runs back in the fifth on four hits. Junior right fielder Victoria Catalano (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) led off with a single through the left side and came around to score on a double to left by LaForce. Dunn then singled to right to drive in LaForce, while taking second on the throw home. After a single by sophomore center fielder Dominique Russo (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay), Hawk drove in Dunn with a groundout for the final run of the game.

Senior Lauren Nichols (Syracuse, N.Y./Solvay) took the loss after allowing eight runs (six earned) over three and two-thirds innings. LaForce finished with three hits, while Catalano and Dunn each had two. Perucki earned the win after striking out seven over four innings, while yielding just an unearned run.
 
Le Moyne (1-3, 1-3 NE10) opens its home schedule on Saturday against the University of New Haven at 1:00 p.m.