Winter Haven, Fla. – The Le Moyne College softball team began their 10-game spring break trip in Winter Haven, Florida with a doubleheader on Sunday. The Dolphins allowed just two total runs in 14 innings during their non-conference contests against Felician University and Slippery Rock University.

Le Moyne defeated Felician 6-1 in their first game of the day behind an outstanding pitching performance from redshirt sophomore right-hander Laura Bennett (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post). Bennett pitched a complete game to earn the win, and in her 7.0 innings of work she allowed just five hits, did not concede a walk, and struck out 10 Golden Falcon batters.

Junior centerfielder Isabelle Boudreau (Memramcook, New Brunswick/Mathieu-Martin/Pace), senior catcher Cassidy Barrett (Apalachin, N.Y./Vestal), and sophomore second baseman Brooke Nicolaos (Liverpool, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) each went 3-4 at the plate. Barrett recorded an RBI, and Nicolaos drove in a team-high two runs.

First year pitcher Julia Panarella (Southington, CONN./Southington) delivered another great performance in the circle for the 'Phins during game two of the day against Slippery Rock, but Le Moyne lost a thrilling pitching duel to SRU, 1-0.

Panarella pitched all seven innings, allowed just four hits, one run, and struck out five batters.

Sophomore left-hander Kelsi Anderson pitched the complete game shut out for Slippery Rock, allowing just two hits in 7.0 innings of work.

"It was evident today that we have grown significantly as a team since our six-game series in the Carolinas. Laura and Julia were solid in the circle and our defense was much improved. We failed to make adjustments at the plate against Slippery Rock which inevitably determined the outcome of the game. They were the better team today. Overall I'm pleased with the growth I see and the direction our team is headed. Slow and steady wins the race in our sport and I'm confident we're on the right course," said Le Moyne Head Coach Tracey Roman after today's games.

Barrett hit a two-out, two-strike single over the third baseman's head during the top of the 1^st inning against Felician, but Golden Falcons starting pitcher Alexis DeLaCruz got a ground ball to end the inning.

Felician put runners on second and third base with one out in the bottom of the first, but Bennett got back-to-back strikeouts (both swinging) to get out of the jam.

Nicolaos hit a ground ball to third base with one out in the top of the second and beat the throw to the bag for an infield single. A Makenzie Konik (Scotia, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) ground ball advanced Nicolaos to second, then Nicolaos stole third during the next at-bat.

DeLaCruz got an infield pop-up to end the inning.

With one out in the top of the third, Boudreau hit a ground the ball in the hole between the shortstop and third baseman. The Felician shortstop ranged to her right and backhanded the ball but had no chance to throw out the speedy Boudreau who reached base safely with an infield single.

First year shortstop Dominique Rinaldi (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Boudreau into scoring position. Barrett hit a slow chopper to third base and beat out the throw. Boudreau sprinted to third as soon as Barrett put the ball in play, and when the ball was thrown to first base, Boudreau made a break for home plate. The throw got their first, but the catcher could not hold onto the ball, and Boudreau was ruled safe at home, giving the 'Phins a 1-0 lead.

Felician responded in the bottom of the third, loading the bases with zero outs.

The Le Moyne infield gathered around Bennett for a quick discussion of strategy, then the players returned to their positions, and Bennett went to work.

Bennett got a three-pitch strikeout, then struck out the next batter on a full count, and then got the following batter down 0-2. The third pitch of the two-strike, two-out at-bat was swung on and poked between the pitcher and second baseman for a base hit. Felician scored a run, then a Le Moyne infielder threw behind the Felcian runner that was rounding third base from second, caught her in a run-down and tagged her for the final out of the inning.

Junior first baseman Mckenzie Bergdoll (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro) hit the ball hard at the third baseman to lead off the top of the 4^th. But the Felician infielder gloved the ground ball and threw Bergdoll out for the first out of the inning.

Nicolaos came to the plate next for the 'Phins, and hit the ball hard on the ground between the second baseman and the bag. The ball rolled to the right center field wall, and Nicolaos reached second base standing up.

DeLaCruz got a strikeout and a flyout to end the inning and keep the game tied at 1-1.

Felician threatened again during the bottom of the 4^th, putting a runner on third base with two outs, but Bennett came up big again for the 'Phins, recording a strikeout (swinging) to end the inning.

Junior left fielder Dominique Russo (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) led off the top of the 5^th inning with a two-strike, hard-hit ground ball past the third baseman for a base hit.

Boudreau came up next, dropped down a bunt, and beat the throw to first, putting runners on first and second for Le Moyne with zero outs.

A passed ball advanced the runners to second and third, then they each advanced (Russo scored) on a wild pitch.

Redshirt-freshman Frankie Larobardiere (North Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse/Onondaga C.C.) singled to right center field to knock in Boudreau and give the Dolphins a 3-1 lead.

Bennett continued to deal for the 'Phins, recording 1-2-3 innings in the bottom of the 5^th and 6^th.

Le Moyne tacked on three more runs in the top of the 7^th.

Russo drew a leadoff walk. Boudreau came up next, looking to drop down another bunt. She pulled back the first attempt, which was called a strike. She attempted to bunt the next pitch but pulled it back for a called ball. During her second bunt attempt, Russo took off from first and swiped a bag to put herself in scoring position.  

Boudreau's third bunt attempt of the at-bat was successful. She dropped it down the third-base line, and was surely going to beat the throw, which was inaccurate and beyond the reach of the first baseman, allowing Russo to come home and score.

With one out in the inning, Boudreau stole second base, then Barrett hit a hard ground ball up the middle that deflected off the pitcher's glove. Barrett reached first base safely with an infield single, and Boudreau advanced to third.

Larobardiere smoked the ball on the ground directly to the shortstop during the next Le Moyne at-bat. The Felician shortstop fielded the ball and tried to throw behind Boudreau at third base. Boudreau got back in time, loading the bases for Le Moyne.

Bergdoll hit a ground ball to third baseman next, and Felician got the force out at home for the second out of the inning. Nicolaos ripped a single into left field that brought Barrett and Larobardiere in to score, giving the 'Phins a 6-1 lead.

Bennett shut down the Golden Falcons in the bottom of the 7^th with her third consecutive 1-2-3 inning.

Panarella allowed four runners to get on base during the first two innings of Le Moyne's game against Slippery Rock, but continued to battle to keep the scoreless, and really settled in during the 3^rd and 4^th innings, recording back-to-back 1-2-3 innings.

First year utility player Alyssa Dybacz (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Charles W. Baker) ripped a single into right field during the bottom of the third but was caught trying to steal second base later in the inning to end the 3^rd.

Boudreau was hit by a pitch and moved into scoring position during the bottom of the 4^th, but the 'Phins could not bring her in.

Slippery Rock got a leadoff single in the top of the 5^th, and a SAC bunt advanced the runner into scoring position. An infield ground ball and some good base running by Felician allowed them to score their runner from second on the play to take a 1-0 lead.

Nicolaos hit a leadoff single in the bottom of the 5^th, and a Bergdoll ground ball advanced Nicolaos to second.

Anderson got an infield popup for the second out, then Nicolaos was thrown out at third on an attempted steal to end the inning.

Panarella recorded two more 1-2-3 innings during the 6^th and 7^th, but the 'Phins could not produce a run in the bottom of the 7^th and lost the game to Slippery Rock 1-0.