Leesburg, Fla. – The Le Moyne College softball team lost an extra-inning contest against #9 University of Indianapolis on Tuesday afternoon at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex before taking down the University of Mary Marauders by a score of 6-4.

The Dolphins took a 4-3 lead over UIndy in the top of the eighth inning before the Greyhounds won in walk-off fashion during the bottom of the frame.

Sophomore Elaina Kassap (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) delivered a pinch-hit, three-RBI triple in the top of the second inning against the No. 9 Greyhounds, and redshirt-junior right-hander Laura Bennett (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) allowed just one earned run and one walk with four strikeouts in 7.0 innings pitched during the setback.

Senior right-hander Kaitlyn Brown pitched the first 4.2 innings for the Greyhounds, then junior righty Kenzee Smith pitched the final 3.1 innings for UIndy to earn the win.

Le Moyne sophomore right-hander Julia Panarella (Southington, Conn./Southington) tossed 5.1 innings against UMary to earn the game-two victory, then Bennett allowed just one hit and zero runs with three strikeouts during the final 1.2 frames to earn her second save of the season.

Kassap, Sophomore outfielder Alyssa Dybacz (Baldswinsville, N.Y./Charles W. Baker) and redshirt-sophomore third baseman Frankie Larobardiere (North Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse/Onondaga C.C.) each provided an RBI during the win over UMary.

"I love the way we're competing at the plate right now," said Le Moyne Head Coach Tracey Roman following the doubleheader. "A couple defensive miscues against UIndy cost us in the end. You have to make routine plays consistently to win against high-caliber opponents. I'm proud of the way we bounced back and got the win in game two. It's not easy to do after losing a heartbreaker to the #9 team in the country in extra innings. It shows the fight in our squad and the quality of our character as a team," Roman continued.

Game one vs. No. 9 University of Indianapolis:
The 'Phins nearly claimed their second straight win over a top-10 ranked UIndy team in the same number of years. Le Moyne defeated then-no. 4 ranked Indianapolis during the Spring Games in 2022.

On Tuesday, the 'Phins went down 1-2-3 in the top of the first, but Bennett delivered a 1-2-3 inning of her own with a strikeout in the bottom of the frame.

To begin the second inning, Larobardiere hit a line drive into right field for a base hit, then Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park) hit a rocket on the ground to the right side of the infield that the defense could not field cleanly, putting runnners on first and second for Le Moyne with zero outs.

Mckenzie Bergdoll (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro) hit a single up the middle, but the defense threw behind Benderski at second to record the first out of the inning.

Bergdoll promptly stole second base to put runners on second and third, then Dominique Rinaldi (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) dropped down a bunt. Rinaldi's bunt fell towards the third base line, and sat on the chalk as the UIndy catcher waited and hoped for the ball to roll foul. Rinaldi's bunt stayed fair, giving Le Moyne bases loaded with just one out. Brown recorded a big strikeout for the Greyhounds to get the second out of the inning.

Le Moyne's nine-hitter, speedy lefty-swinging freshman shortstop Alayna Bush (Adams, N.Y./South Jefferson) was scheduled to step to the plate next, but coach Roman sensed an opportunity for a big first inning and opted to go with more power at the plate, putting the bat in Kassap's hand as a pinch hitter.

Kassap worked a 3-0 count, took a strike all the way, then fouled off the 3-1 fastball.

With a 3-2 count, the UIndy pitcher tried to throw it by Kassap with an elevated heater, but Kassap went the other way and drilled the ball towards right field. Kassap's line drive sliced away from the right fielder and landed fair. All three baserunners scored, and Kassap hustled into third for a triple.

The Greyhounds got two runs back in the bottom of the second with the help of a Le Moyne error, then they loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the third, but Bennett got an infield pop up to end the inning and maintain a one-run lead for the 'Phins.

The Greyhounds scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 3-3.

Bennett allowed just one baserunner combined during the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, sending the game to extra innings.

Due to the international tie breaker rule, Le Moyne was given a runner on second to start the top of the eighth.

Larobardiere led off the top of the eighth with a base hit through the left side, which moved Barrett to third base.

Benderski reached safely to load the bases, then UIndy threw Barrett out at home on a fielder's choice during the next at bat.

With the bases loaded and one out, Rinaldi hit the ball in the air to shallow right-center field. The UIndy second baseman went straight back to make the catch but fell to the ground during her effort.

Larobardiere tagged up on the play and raced home to give Le Moyne a 4-3 lead in extras.

UIndy was given a runner on second to start the bottom of the eighth and senior infielder Emily O'Connor  laid down a bunt towards the right side of the infield, which moved Lexy Rees to third.

O'Connor reached first safely, then ran towards an empty second base to give the Greyhounds runners on second and third with zero outs.

Indianapolis junior infielder Dominique Proctor hit a ground ball though the left side of the infield during the next at bat, driving in both runners to give the Greyhounds a walk-off victory, which improved their record to 20-3.

Tuesday marked the third time already this season that the Dolphins have encountered a nationally ranked opponent. Lincoln Memorial University was ranked no. 18 in the NCFA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll when the Dolphins beat them 4-3 in Georgia during the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Le Moyne then took a 2-0 lead over No. 9 The University of Alabama in Huntsville in the third inning on February 26 before falling to the Chargers by a score of 5-2.

On Tuesday against no. 9 Indianapolis, Larobardiere went 2-2 at the plate and was hit by a pitch, while Rinaldi and Benderski both provided a team-best three hits.
 
Game two vs. University of Mary:
After senior center fielder Isabelle Boudreau (Memramcook, New Brunswick/Mathieu-Martin/Pace) drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first against the Marauders, Dybacz moved her into scoring position with a base hit through the right side, then Boudreau tagged up and took third on a live drive to the right fielder from Cassidy Barrett (Apalachin, N.Y./Vestal).

Larobardiere then lifted a fly ball to center field, which allowed Boudreau to tag up from third and score easily.

UMary tied the game in the bottom of the first, but the 'Phins took a 4-1 lead during the second inning.

Bergdoll led off the bottom of the second with a walk, then stole second base after a Le Moyne strikeout.

Dominique Russo (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first.

Bergdoll rounded third and headed for home as Russo got herself into a run down. Bergdoll crossed the plate without a throw, and Russo was able to get back to first safely.

Bush reached on error, then a bunt single from Boudreau started a chaotic play during which Bush and Russo both crossed the plate to give the 'Phins a three-run lead.

With two outs and a runner on first for UMary in the top of the third, the Marauder baserunner attempted to steal a bag and give her team a runner in scoring position. Barrett caught the pitch and threw a dart to second base from her knees that hit Bush's glove on the money. Bush swiftly applied the tag, and the runner was ruled out to end the inning.

UMary put a runner on third with two outs in the top of the fifth, but Panarella got a ground ball right back at her, fielded it cleanly and threw to first in time to end the inning and maintain Le Moyne's 4-1 lead.

Boudreau reached on a bunt single in the top of the fifth, then Dybacz drove her in with a double to right center field. Kassap traded places with Dybacz with a double of her own into the right-center gap.

UMary trimmed their deficit to 6-3 with one out and a runner on third, then Coach Roman sent Bennett out to the circle to close the game.

UMary was able to score their runner at third, but Bennett prevented further damage and put the bats back in Le Moyne's hands with a 6-4 advantage.

Bennett hit a batter to lead off the top of the seventh, then struck out the next three batters to end the game and secure the win for the 'Phins.

The Le Moyne softball team will enjoy a day off in Florida on Wednesday before returning to action at The Spring Games on Thursday. The Dolphins will take on Saint Thomas Aquinas College on Thursday at 9:00 a.m., then they will battle Shepherd University at 11:15 a.m.