Syracuse, N.Y. – Redshirt freshman righty Laura Bennett (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) tossed her third shutout of the season to lead the Le Moyne College softball team to a 3-0 win over Pace University in the second game of a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the Niland Athletic Complex. The Setters won the opening game of the day, 10-6.
 
The Dolphins scored the only run they would need in the nightcap on three hits in the fourth inning after Pace left the bases loaded in the top of the frame. Junior right fielder Victoria Catalano (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) led off with a single to left field and moved to second a single up the middle by sophomore designated player Kaycee Hawk (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker/UAlbany). Following a pair of outs, graduate student first baseman Taylor Artley (York Haven, Pa./Red Land) singled up the middle to drive in Catalano.

Le Moyne added a pair of runs in the fifth. Following a one-out single to center by junior center fielder Dominique Russo (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay), senior shortstop Kaily LaForce (Binghamton, N.Y./Binghamton) blasted a home run to left field for a 3-0 lead.

The Setters loaded the bases in the sixth and seventh innings, but were unable to cash in either time as they finished the game with 13 runners left on base.

Bennett struck out six en route to collecting her seventh victory of the season. Emma Bernet took the loss for the Setters after allowing three runs over six innings.

In the opener, the Dolphins scored first with a run in the first inning. Russo drew a walk to start the frame, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a triple to right center by Catalano.

Pace evened the score in the second without getting a hit. First baseman Briana Ryan was hit by a pitch to start the inning, advanced to third as Brittany Walkingstick reached on a throwing error by the first baseman and later scored on a bases loaded walk by designated player Savannah Godfrey.

The Setters took the lead with three runs on three hits and two Le Moyne errors in the third. Left fielder Isabelle Boudreau reached on a bunt single to start the inning and advanced around to third as third baseman Kaylani Miller reached on a throwing error by the first baseman. Ryan then lifted a sacrifice fly to center to knock in Boudreau. Walkingstick and Godfrey followed with doubles to right field around an out to knock in Miller and Walkingstick, respectively.

Le Moyne got one run back in the bottom of the third. LaForce led off with a triple to center and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Catalano.

Pace extended its lead to 7-2 with three more runs in the fourth. After Boudreau singled to the shortstop with one out and Ryan singled to center with two outs, Walkingstick homered to right.

The Dolphins scored once in the bottom of the fourth to get back within four. Freshman second baseman Brooke Nicolaos (Liverpool, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) walked to start the inning, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout by Artley.

The Setters scored for the fourth straight inning with a run in the fifth. Catcher Carolina Iturriaga was hit by a pitch with one out and was replaced at first by pinch-runner Sammi Swenson. After a sacrifice bunt, center fielder Arielle Acosta singled up the middle to drive in Swenson.

Pace completed its scoring with a pair of runs on three hits in the sixth. Ryan singled up the middle and Walkingstick drew a walk to start the inning. After an out, Godfrey singled to the right side to plate Ryan. Walkingstick then scored on a double to right by Iturriaga.

Le Moyne plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth on five hits. After Nicolaos walked with one out, sophomore third baseman Makenzie Konik (Scotia, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) blasted a home run to center. Artley and sophomore left fielder Jillian Dunn (Fiskdale, Mass./Tantasqua Regional) followed with singles up the middle and then Russo walked to load the bases and force a pitching change. LaForce greeted the new pitcher with a single to first base to drive in Artley.

Senior Lauren Nichols (Syracuse, N.Y./Solvay) suffered the loss after giving up seven runs over three and two-thirds innings. Mackenzie Garrick earned the win after tossing the first five and one-third innings. Bernet earned a save after recording the final five outs.

Le Moyne, which has a bye the final weekend of the conference schedule, finishes the regular season at 11-13 overall and in the NE10. The Dolphins now await their seeding for the NE10 Championship, which begins on Tuesday, May 4. Currently, the Dolphins are in fourth place in the Southwest Division.