Salisbury, N.C. – The Le Moyne College softball team won both games of their doubleheader at Catawba College on Sunday afternoon. The Dolphins won the first game 8-2, then defeated Catawba again by a score of 6-2 during the second game.

During game one of the doubleheader, redshirt-sophomore right-hander Laura Bennett (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) started in the circle for Le Moyne and allowed just three hits and one earned run in 4.0 innings of work. Sophomore right-hander Lindsey Dobbs (Schenectady, N.Y./Colonie) came on in relief, pitching the final 3.0 innings of the game during which she surrendered just two hits and zero runs.

Catawba got on the board first with a solo homerun from senior Bailey Benton in the bottom of the 2^nd inning.

Le Moyne junior outfielder Dominique Russo (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) led off the top of the 3^rd inning with a double down the left field line, then a bunt single from junior Isabelle Boudreau (Memramcook, New Brunswick/Mathieu-Martin/Pace) moved her to third base. First year utility player Dominique Rinaldi (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) stepped to the plate next and doubled to left field, knocking in both Russo and Boudreau to give Le Moyne a 2-1 lead. A flyout and two lineouts ended the inning.

Bennett delivered a 1-2-3 inning during the top of the 3^rd, then sophomore middle infielder Brooke Nicolaos (Liverpool, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) laced a two-run homerun over the left field fence during the top of the 4^th inning to put the Dolphins up 4-1.

Catawba got a run back during the bottom of the 4^th.

The Le Moyne bats stayed hot during the top of the 5^th inning. Boudreau led off the inning with another bunt single, then a Rinaldi sacrifice bunt moved her into scoring position. Senior catcher Cassidy Barrett (Apalachin, N.Y./Vestal) drew a walk on four pitches, then redshirt-freshman Frankie Larobardiere (North Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse/Onondaga C.C.) ripped a single to knock in Boudreau. A sacrifice fly from first year utility player Alyssa Dybacz (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Charles W. Baker) scored senior Taylor Cox (Neversink, N.Y./Tri-Valley Secondary School), who pinch-ran for Barrett.

Russo singled through the left side of the infield during the top of the 6^th, and eventually scored during the inning on a wild pitch to make it 8-2 in favor of the 'Phins, which is how the game would end.

Le Moyne first Year pitcher Julia Panarella (Southington, Conn./Southington) got the ball to start game two of the doubleheader and allowed just two runs (both unearned) in 4.1 innings of work.

Rinaldi went 3-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored during the victory, while Barrett went 3-3 with a walk and two RBIs.

Le Moyne scored the first run of the game during the top of the 1^st inning. Rinaldi hit a one-out single to center field, then Barrett ripped a single, and Larobardiere laced a single to right field that allowed Rinaldi to cross the plate.

Catawba tied the game with an unearned run in the bottom of the 2^nd.

Nicolaos led off the top of the 4^th with a single up the middle, and junior Makenzie Konik (Scotia, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) came in to pinch-run for Nicolaos. First year catcher Elaina Kassap (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) drew a walk, then Russo reached on an error to load the bases. Rinaldi ripped a single to left center, which drove in Konik and Kassap. Rinaldi and Russo crossed the plate following a Barrett single to left field, which extended the Dolphins' lead to 5-1.

Catawba got a run back in the bottom of the 4^th inning, but the 'Phins tacked on another run during the top of the 6^th when Boudreau drew a two-out walk, stole second base, then scored off a Rinaldi single to center.

Le Moyne improved to 2-2 on the season following their two wins over Catawba.

The Dolphins will play another doubleheader tomorrow against Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C. before returning to Syracuse.