Leesburg, Fla. – Redshirt-junior right-hander Laura Bennett (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) threw a complete-game shutout on Thursday at The Spring Games against east-region foe Saint Thomas Aquinas, leading the Dolphins to a 5-0 win against the Spartans.

Le Moyne fell in game two of their doubleheader to Shepherd University by a score of 10-1 in five innings.

"We played a solid game of softball against STAC. They are a good team with solid pitching. We capitalized offensively in key moments which made the difference in the game," said Le Moyne head coach Tracey Roman following Thursday's doubleheader. "I felt we lacked discipline at the plate and weren't as aggressive offensively in game two. We made a couple mental mistakes in the outfield which cost us more runs than what we should have given up. We are definitely going through some growing pains but these are lessons better learned now versus later in the season. This team loves to compete and we are excited to have four more opportunities before we head back to The Heights," Roman continued.

Bennett allowed just five hits and one walk with 10 strikeouts in 7.0 innings pitched during game one, marking the second time this season that the Corning native has tallied 10 Ks in a single game.

Redshirt-sophomore third baseman Frankie Larobardiere (North Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse/Onondaga C.C.) went 2-2 at the plate with a walk against the Spartans, while sophomore right fielder Alyssa Dybacz (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Charles W. Baker) provided two hits, including a double, a run scored and two RBIs.

Through 15 starts in 2023, Larobardiere is batting .405 with a .784 slugging percentage.

Sophomore right-hander Abbie Labdrum pitched all 6.0 innings for the Spartans and went 2-3 at the plate during the setback.

Bennett recorded a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts in the opening frame, then delivered another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second.

Larobardiere lead off the bottom of the second with a base hit to the left side of the infield, then freshman Avery Linn (Bethpage, N.Y./Plainedge) entered the game as a pinch runner.

Graduate catcher Cassidy Barrett (Apalachin, N.Y./Vestal) then moved Linn into scoring position with a ground ball back to the pitcher.

Labdrum recorded a strikeout for the second out of the inning, but some aggressive base running from Linn allowed her to cross the plate during the next at bat.

Linn took a big secondary lead after a pitch was thrown to Dominique Rinaldi (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville), then the rookie took off for third as the STAC catcher attempted to throw behind her at second. The throw sailed over the shortstop's head just before Linn slid headfirst into third. Linn quickly popped back up and dashed home to give the 'Phins a 1-0 lead.

Following a tremendous diving catch from Dybacz in the right-center field gap for the first out of the top of the third, STAC threatened to tie the game with back-to-back one-out singles followed by a sacrifice bunt that moved the runners to second and third with two outs.

Bennett attacked the next hitter and recorded her fourth strikeout to end the inning and maintain the shutout bid.

The 'Phins then doubled their lead in the bottom of the third.

First-year shortstop Alayna Bush (Adams, N.Y./South Jefferson) stepped to the plate with one out in the third and slapped the ball towards the left side of the infield and reached safely for a base hit.

Bush moved into scoring position on a passed ball, then senior center fielder Isabelle Boudreau (Memramcook, New Brunswick/Mathieu-Martin) moved her over to third with a ground ball to the left side.

Le Moyne's two-hitter Dybacz stepped to the plate next and ripped the ball through the right side of the infield to drive in Bush and make it 2-0 in favor of the Dolphins.

Landrum provided a leadoff double for Saint Thomas Aquinas in the top of the fourth, then freshman center fielder Eliana Raposo drew a walk to put runners on first and second with zero outs. Bennett got a fly ball to shallow center field for the first out of the inning, then she struck out the next to batters swinging to strand both runners and keep the Spartans scoreless.

The 'Phins continued to hit the ball hard in the fourth, but some back luck prevented them from furthering their lead.

Larobardiere hammered a single to right field to lead off the bottom of the fourth, then Barrett smoked the ball at the third baseman. STAC got the force out at second, but Barrett hustled down the line to prevent them from turning a double play.

The reigning NE10 Player of the Week, senior first baseman Mckenzie Bergdoll (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro) hit a rocket at the first baseman during the next at bat. In a split second, STAC's Tara Hagan reached up to snag the line drive for a putout, then stepped on first base to complete the double play and end the inning.

Bennett shut down the Spartans with another 1-2-3 inning, including two more strikeouts in the top of the fifth, then Le Moyne extended their lead in the bottom of the frame.

Senior left fielder Dominique Russo (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) ripped a one-out single through the right side of the infield to give the 'Phins their first base runner of the fifth inning, then Bush laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Russo into scoring position.

Senior outfielder Jillian Dunn (Fiskdale, Mass./Tantasqua Regional) stepped to the plate next as a pinch hitter and slapped a pitch between the first baseman and second baseman and the ball snuck into the outfield grass, allowing Russo to score from second base.

Russo advanced to second base on the play, then Dybacz hammered a double into the left-center field gap to drive in Dunn and make it 4-0 in favor of the Dolphins.

Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park) hit the ball in the air to shallow left field during the next at bat, and the STAC outfielder could not make the catch, allowing Dybacz to score and giving Le Moyne their fifth run of the contest.

Saint Thomas Aquinas loaded the bases in the top of the sixth, but Bennett got two consecutive infield popups to get out of the inning unscathed.

In the top of the seventh inning, Bennett got a ground ball to Rinaldi at second base for the first out of the inning, then Laura recorded her ninth and 10^th strikeouts of the contest to end the game and secure the win for the 'Phins.

Le Moyne redshirt-sophomore right-hander Michaela Stockwell (Fort Plain, N.Y./Fort Plain) started game two for Le Moyne and tossed 2.2 inning during the setback, then sophomore righty Julia Panarella (Southington, Conn./Southington) pitched 1.1 innings in relief.

Shepherd senior right-hander Katie Laing pitched the first 3.1 innings and allowed just one run to earn the win for the Rams, then freshman Abby McBride pitched 1.2 frames to finish the game.

The Rams took a 7-0 lead in the third inning, then scored three more in the fourth and held Le Moyne scoreless in the top of the fifth to end the game.

Le Moyne scored their lone run against Shepherd via an RBI double from Bergdoll in the top of the fourth.

The Dolphins will play four more contests at the Spring Games in Florida before returning to Syracuse, with doubleheaders on both Friday and Saturday.

Le Moyne will take on Wayne State University on Friday at 12:30 p.m. before a 3:00 p.m. matchup against Purdue University Northwest.