Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College softball team split their NE10 Conference doubleheader against the Falcons of Bentley University at the Softball Complex on Tuesday afternoon.

Le Moyne scored in the top of the 8^th (since the doubleheader was originally supposed to take place at Bentley earlier in the season, Le Moyne was the designated away team for both games) during game one to prevail in extra innings by a score of 2-1, then the Falcons earned a 2-0 victory during game two.

"Two tight games today with solid outings in the circle from Laura (Bennett) and Julia (Panarella). The split was ultimately determined by one costly inning for Bentley in the first game and one for our team in the second game. Bottom line is that you can't win if you don't score runs. We had opportunities with runners in scoring position but did not capitalize in game two. There are no easy games in the NE10. Every team is fighting for a position in the top eight to advance to post-season play and a win at this point must be earned," said Le Moyne Head Coach Tracey Roman after the games.

Laura Bennett (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) pitched all eight innings and struck out eight batters during game one to earn her 12^th win of the season.

Alyssa Dybacz (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) and Cassidy Barrett (Apalachin, N.Y./Vestal) each went 2-4 at the plate during the win, and Dybacz provided the 'Phins with a solo home run to tie the game during the bottom of the 6^th.

Julia Panarella (Southington, Conn./Southington) allowed just five hits and two runs in 6.0 innings of work during game two, but Bentley starting pitcher Dahlia Fink tossed 5.2 scoreless innings and Payton Doiron did not allow a hit during one inning in relief for the Falcons.

Katie Welch and Sam Petow each recorded one RBI for the Falcons during game two.

Barrett and Dybacz hit back-to-back two-out singles into the outfield during the top of the 1^st inning of game one, but Bentley starting pitcher Elise Pereira got a fly ball to end the inning.

Jordan Krause hit a hard-line drive towards third base to lead off the bottom of the inning and ended up on second base. Kylee Amato moved her over to third base with a sacrifice bunt. With one out and a runner on third, Bennett recorded a big strikeout against the three-hitter, Kaylee Mankins, then got a fly ball out of the cleanup hitter Ella Hillier to end the inning without giving up a run.

Bennett allowed a leadoff single during the bottom of the 2^nd but then recorded two consecutive strikeouts and then got a fly ball to end the inning.

Kaileen Cain hit a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the 4^th inning to give the Falcons a 1-0 advantage.

Le Moyne went down 1-2-3 during the top of the 5^th, then recorded two quick outs in the top of the 6^th. Dybcacz stepped to the plate with the Le Moyne offense struggling to create any momentum, and she produced the tying run with one swift swing. Dybacz hit a hard fly ball that soared over the left-center field fence to even the score at 1-1.

Neither team to get a run across in the 7^th, so the game was sent into extra innings.

Dominique Russo (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) led off the top of the 8^th for the 'Phins and hit a hard ground ball towards the third base side. The ball deflected off the glove of the third baseman into foul territory, and Russo slid headfirst into second base to give Le Moyne a runner in scoring position with zero outs.

Isabelle Boudreau (Memramcook, New Brunswick/Mathieu-Martin/Pace) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Russo to third base with just one out. Brooke Nicolaos (Liverpool, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) was hit by a pitch, then CJ Barrett fell into a two-strike hole. Bentley relief pitcher Payton Doiron was able to strike out Barrett swinging on the next pitch, but the ball was high and got past the catcher Hillier, allowing Russo to dash home and record the go-ahead run.

Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the 8^th, the Falcons got a lead off double from Hillier, then Cain was hit by a pitch. Sabrina Grizzaffi dropped down a bunt, and Elaina Kassap (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) nearly made a great diving catch on the play charging in from first base, but she was unable to make the catch and the 'Phins were unable to record an out on the play, loading the bases with still zero outs in the inning.

During the next at-bat, Morgan Fraitzl lifted a fly ball to center field, medium depth. Boudreau caught the ball in the outfield for Le Moyne, and immediately threw it towards home, as Hillier was tagging up at third. Hillier beat the throw to the plate, and seemingly recorded the tying run for the Falcons. However, Le Moyne believed that Hillier might have left the bag for home before the ball was caught, so the infield threw the ball to third base and stepped on the bag. The umpire signaled that the runner was out, that she indeed left the base early, completing a huge momentum-swinging double play for the 'Phins. With the run disallowed, and two outs on the score board, Bennett got a fly ball during the next at-bat to end the game and secure the 2-1 victory for the 'Phins.

Bentley struck first in game two, scoring a run in the bottom of the 2^nd inning. Cain singled to lead off the inning, then Sam Petow moved her over to second base with a sacrifice bunt. Katie Welch ripped a double into the right-center field gap to trade places with Cain and give the Falcons a 1-0 lead.

Dominique Rinaldi (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) led off the top of the 3^rd inning for the 'Phins, and she hit the ball hard between the shortstop and second base. Bentley shortstop Sabrina Grizzaffi fielded the ball cleanly moving to her left, but her throw was off target and rolled into foul territory, allowing Rinaldi to advance to second base with zero outs.

During the next at-bat, Makenzie Konik (Scotia, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) squared around to bunt, but then pulled it back and took a ball. Hillier dropped the pitch for a moment, and Rinaldi took off towards third. Hillier picked up the ball and made the throw to third base in plenty of time to catch Rinaldi stealing and stifle Le Moyne's momentum.

Bentley loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 3^rd, and Petow hit a hard chopper back up the middle. Panarella got a glove on it, and the ball fell right behind her. Panarella picked it up and quickly made the throw to first, but the run scored from third, making it 2-0 in favor of the Falcons.

Welch led off the bottom of the 4^th inning for the Falcons, and she hit a rocket line drive to the left of Rinaldi at third base. Rinaldi turned and laid out to make a tremendous diving catch for the first out of the inning. During the next at-bat, Katherine Noftall hit a fly ball down the line in shallow right field. Victoria Catalano (Farport, N.Y./Fairport) came sprinting on a diagonal path towards the ball, and at the last moment slid on both knees right on the foul line and made the catch for out number two. After back-to-back web gems, Bentley's talented freshman Jordan Krause recorded an infield single, but then Panarella got a ground ball to end the inning.

Boudreau drew a walk to lead off the top of the 6^th inning for Le Moyne, then Nicolaos laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her into scoring position. Barrett drew a walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Dybacz stepped to the plate next and on a 2-1 pitch she swung and lifted the ball high in the air towards center field. Bentley center fielder Petow turned and ran towards the wall on contact. With her eyes on the ball, she stopped just as she reached the warning track, settled under the ball and caught it just a foot away from the center field fence for the second out of the inning. Boudreau was able to tag up from second and advance to third on the deep fly ball, however the 'Phins were painfully close to getting a go-ahead three-run home run in the penultimate inning. Doiron, who entered the game after Boudreau's leadoff walk, got a ground ball to end the inning and keep the Dolphins scoreless.

Le Moyne put runners on first and second with two outs in the top of the 7^th, but Fink, who re-entered the game with one out in the inning, got a ground ball to end the game and complete the shutout victory for Bentley.

The Le Moyne College softball team will play another Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader on their home field on Friday against the Adelphi University Panthers.