Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College softball team (18-15, 7-5 NE10) improved their 2023 home record to 6-0 after earning their fifth and sixth consecutive NE10 victories on Tuesday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep over The College of Saint Rose Golden Knights (6-21, 1-11 NE10) at the Le Moyne Softball Complex.

The Dolphins, who previously claimed home doubleheader sweeps on Friday against New Haven and on Saturday against Southern Connecticut State, overcame a 3-0 deficit to register a 6-3 win in game one against the Golden Knights, then took a 6-0 lead early in game two before grinding out a 6-5 win in the second half of the Tuesday doubleheader.

Redshirt-junior right-hander Laura Bennett (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) registered her third consecutive complete-game victory in the first half of Tuesday's doubleheader, allowing just five hits with seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work. Bennett allowed all three runs in the top of the second on a bases-loaded double from Saint Rose shortstop Nayana DeAmelia, then she held the Golden Knights to just two hits, one walk and zero runs in the final 5.0 frames.

Game one against Saint Rose marked the fourth time this season that the Dolphins earned a conference win after their opponent scored first. After the Dolphins fell behind 3-0 on Tuesday, they immediately responded with two runs in the bottom of the second. Bennett shut down the Golden Knights in the third, fourth and fifth innings, then sophomore right fielder Alyssa Dybacz (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Charles W. Baker) delivered a go-ahead two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore left fielder Elaina Kassap (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) added some insurance runs later in the fifth with a two-RBI single up the middle.

"I have a lot of trust in our offense this season," said Bennett after Tuesday's doubleheader. "It gives me a ton of confidence (knowing our offense can work out of a deficit). In years past, I've been a little uneasy while pitching when we're behind, but this year I'm a lot calmer in there (when we're facing a deficit) and have a lot of confidence in our hitters. It makes the game a lot easier," Bennett added. Bennett leads the NE10 with 15 complete games so far in 2023, and she is second among Northeast-10 pitchers in both strikeouts (144) and wins (12).

After two scoreless innings from redshirt-sophomore right-hander Michaela Stockwell (Fort Plain, N.Y./Fort Plain) to start game two, Le Moyne jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the second with the help of a three-run home run from freshman DP Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park). Stockwell and sophomore righty Julia Panarella (Southington, Conn./Southington) each recorded an out in the top of the fourth, but after Saint Rose trimmed their deficit to 6-5, Coach Roman sent Bennett back out to the circle to shut things down. Bennett immediately recorded a strikeout to end the fourth, then held the Golden Knights to one hit, zero walks and zero runs with four more strikeouts over the final 3.0 innings to secure the win for the 'Phins and improve her 2023 record to 12-8.

Dybacz, senior center fielder Isabelle Boudreau (Memramcook, New Brunswick/Mathieu-Martin/Pace) and sophomore second baseman Dominique Rinaldi (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) each provided two hits during the 6-5 win.

Following the doubleheader, Boudreau's hitting streak stands at eight games, while Dybacz extended her hitting streak to 15 games.

Dybacz leads the conference in extra base hits with 21 (15 doubles, two triples, four home runs) so far this season, including a league-best 11 extra-base hits against NE10 competition. Senior first baseman Mckenzie Bergdoll (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro) is second in the NE10 with eight extra-base hits during conference games, and first in the league with 16 RBIs through 12 conference contests.

"I'm just trying to swing at good pitches and make sure I'm seeing the ball all the way in. I'm trying to be very selective at the plate," said Dybacz on Tuesday. "I think we're glad to be home and our offense has really been showing up lately. We're being gritty in all that we do and finding ways to get wins…. We know how to drag ourselves out of a deficit, and we're always there for each other to pick one another up," Dybacz added.

The Dolphins began conference play with a 1-5 record, but after six consecutive home wins their NE10 resume stands at 7-5, good for sixth place in the Northeast-10 Softball Standings.

Laura Bennett on the team's mentality after the 1-5 start in conference:
"Every day is a new day. We can't think about the past, you can't let it get to you. You just have to come in the next day and keep on working, and just trust yourself, and trust the others around you that you can buck up and get it going."

Le Moyne Head Coach Tracey Roman following Tuesday's doubleheader sweep:
"There are no easy wins in the NE10 and Saint Rose came out swinging. Our ability to stay composed and execute our plan offensively despite being down early was huge. We're finding ways to win games that could have easily gotten away from us, which is progress. The timing of Alyssa and Audrey's home runs were huge for us today. In the circle, Laura is tough to beat. She wants the ball in critical situations and embraces pressure. We're getting some strong innings from Michaela and I'm confident she'll continue to get better as she gains more experience. This team is committed to doing whatever is needed and it shows in our performances over the past week."

Le Moyne's current six-game winning streak is their longest since the 2021 season, when the 'Phins won six straight conference games between April 3 and April 10
 
Game One:
Saint Rose sophomore catcher Ellen Fuda ripped a one-out double with nobody on in the top of the first, then Bennett struck out the three-hitter and caught a line drive right back to her from first baseman Madison Chandler to end the inning.

A leadoff walk, a bunt single, and another walk loaded the bases with zero outs for Saint Rose in the top of the second. Bennett recorded a three-pitch strikeout during the next at bat for the first out of the inning, then Saint Rose right fielder Nayana DeAmelia delivered a one-out double over the left fielder's head to clear the bases and give the Golden Knights a 3-0 lead. With one out and DeAmelia on second base, Bennett got an infield popup for out number two, then Boudreau made a sliding catch in center field on a live drive from Fuda to end the inning and prevent further damage.

The 'Phins answered right back in the bottom of the second.

Benderski drew a four-pitch walk to lead off the second, then rookie infielder Alayna Bush (Adams, N.Y./South Jefferson) came in to pinch run. During Kassap's at bat, Bush took a big secondary lead and advanced to second on a ball in the dirt.

Kassap fouled off three two-strike pitches before drawing a walk on a 3-2 pitch that missed low and outside to give the 'Phins runners on first and second with zero outs.

Graduate catcher Cassidy Barrett (Apalachin, N.Y./Vestal) stepped to the plate next, and watched the first pitch for a ball. Bush got a big secondary lead at second base, then took off for third as the catcher threw the ball back to Saint Rose starting pitcher Jenna Plue. By the time Plue looked at third, Bush was sliding in with a stolen base.

Kassap took off for second on the next pitch, looking to draw a throw, but Fuda faked to second and tried to throw behind Bush at third, but the rookie speedster got back to the base in time.

Barrett drew a walk to load the bases, then Rinaldi hit a pitch back up the middle on the shortstop's side of second base. Saint Rose got a fielder's choice at second, but Rinaldi hustled up the line to reach base, and Bush crossed the plate to give Rinaldi an RBI. As the Saint Rose infield jogged the ball back to their pitcher, Rinaldi slyly took second base to once again put runners on second and third.

First-year shortstop Avery Linn (Bethpage, N.Y./Plainedge) dropped down a bunt towards the left side during the next at bat, and Bush beat the flip from the third baseman to the plate to trim Le Moyne's deficit to 3-2.

Bennett recorded a strikeout on a nasty changeup for the first out of the third inning, then Chandler hit a hard line drive up the middle. The ball took its first bounce just behind the pitcher's circle, then skipped quickly towards the outfield grass. Linn ranged to her left, slid on her right leg to field the ball, then popped up and quickly got rid of it to narrowly get Chandler at first base for the second out of the inning.

Bennett got a popup to complete the 1-2-3 inning in the third, then allowed a two-out single with nobody on in the fourth.

On an 0-2 count during the next at bat, the Saint Rose runner took off for second. The pitch was high, which brought Barrett out of her stance. The graduate catcher quickly turned and fired towards second base as Linn moved over to cover. The throw was on target but took a short hop in front of Linn. The first-year shortstop dropped down to her right knee in front of the bag, scooped the ball in the middle of her body then in one fluid motion applied the tag on the base runner to record the final out of the inning.

Saint Rose threatened to extend their lead in the top of the fifth after center fielder Ciana Phillips ripped a one-out triple to left-center field.

The two-hitter Fuda tried to drop down a bunt during the first pitch of the next at bat, but she popped the ball up towards the Le Moyne dugout on the third base side. The third baseman Makenzie Konik (Scotia, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) came crashing in hard, while the catcher Barrett instinctively went after the ball as well. Both players dove for the ball and went crashing into one another, but Konik kept her eye on the ball and made the catch for a massively important second out.

Bennett got an infield popup from the three-hitter during the next at bat to end the inning and strand the runner at third.

Boudreau dropped down a drag bunt towards first base to lead off the bottom of the fifth and beat the throw to first for a base hit.

Up next, Dybacz, swinging one of the hottest bats in the NE10, got ahead in the count 2-0 before jumping on an elevated pitch and launching a no-doubt home run over the left field fence to give the 'Phins a 4-3 lead.

With the bases cleared and still zero outs in the bottom of the fifth, Bergdoll reached base with a chopper back at the pitcher. Benderski hit a hard ground ball up the middle that bounced off the shortstop's leg and ricocheted into shallow left field. Bergdoll smartly rounded second and kept striding towards third, while Benderski hustled into second base.

Kassap stepped into the box next and ripped the first pitch she saw up the middle to drive in both runners and extend Le Moyne's lead to 6-3.

Bennett recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth, then worked around a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh to secure the game-one win for the 'Phins.
 
Game Two:
Stockwell recorded a quick 1-2-3 inning in the top of the first, then Le Moyne struck first in the bottom of the frame.

Boudreau ripped a line drive over the second baseman's head to lead off the bottom of the first, then Dybacz hammered a 1-2 pitch all the way to the wall in the left-center field gap to drive in Boudreau from first.

Bergdoll hit a rope down the left field line during the next at bat to drive in Dybacz and make it 2-0 in favor of the Dolphins.

The Golden Knights put a runner on second base with two outs in the top of the second, then the third baseman Hannah Smith hit a hard ground ball towards the right-center field grass. Rinaldi ranged to her right, slid on her left leg to backhand the ball, then got up and fired to first in time for the third out of the inning.

Linn worked a full count to lead off the bottom of the second, then laced a base hit towards the left side of the infield. Linn advanced to second on a ground ball from Boudreau, then she tagged up and moved to third on a fly ball to deep right field from Dybacz.

Bergdoll was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and third, then redshirt-sophomore third baseman Frankie Larobardiere (North Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse/Onondaga C.C.) hit a blooper in front of the diving left fielder to drive in Linn and move Bergdoll to third.

During the next at bat, Benderski fouled off three two-strike pitches and took a ball before getting a fastball on the outside part of the plate. Benderski extended her hands and used a lightning quick swing to send a towering fly ball over the left-center field fence, driving in three runs to put the 'Phins up 6-3.

Saint Rose sophomore pitcher Madi Puppolo, who came in to get the final out of the second, led off the top of the third with a double to left field, then scored on a ground ball from Katelyn Baker. Puppolo drove in two more runs with a double in the top of the fourth that trimmed her team's deficit to 6-4.

Panarella entered the game for the Dolphins, then Baker drove in Puppolo with a triple to left-center field. Barrett threw behind Baker at third base for the second out of the inning, then Bennett entered the game and struck out the first batter she faced on a 1-2 fastball that painted the inside corner for a called strike three.

Bennett recorded three strikeouts in the top of the fifth, then stranded a runner at second in the sixth. For the finale, she delivered a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the seventh to secure her second win of the afternoon.

The Le Moyne College softball team will return to action on Saturday, April 15 when they travel to Springfield, Massachusetts for a doubleheader against the American International College Yellow Jackets. The Dolphins will then travel to Worcester for an NE10 doubleheader at Assumption University on Sunday.