Worcester, Mass. – The no. 6-seed Assumption University Greyhounds (22-17, 13-11 NE10) scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to claim a 3-2 win over the no. 7-seed Le Moyne College Dolphins on Tuesday at Assumption's Marois Field in round one of the Northeast-10 Softball Championship.

Le Moyne redshirt-junior right-hander Laura Bennett (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) pitched all 6.0 innings for Le Moyne and held the Greyhounds to just five hits, one walk and two earned runs with three strikeouts, but Assumption sophomore left-hander Anna Tassone replaced freshman right-handed starting pitcher Kaelin Waldron in the third inning and allowed just two hits, three walks and zero runs with four strikeouts over the final 4.1 frames to earn her 10^th win of the season.

Graduate catcher Cassidy Barrett (Apalachin, N.Y./Vestal) and senior center fielder Isabelle Boudreau (Memramcook, New Brunswick/Mathieu-Martin/Pace) both provided a team-best two hits for the Dolphins during the defeat, while redshirt-sophomore third baseman Frankie Larobardiere (North Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse/Onondaga C.C.) and freshman DP Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park) both delivered a RBI. Boudreau and senior first baseman Mckenzie Bergdoll (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro) both crossed the plate during the third inning.

With one out and nobody on base in the bottom of the first., Assumption junior second baseman Lauren Geremia reached base and advanced to third following a throwing error. Junior catcher Corin Mahan successfully laid down a bunt during the next at bat and the speedy Geremia beat the throw to the plate with a headfirst slide to give the Greyhounds an early 1-0 lead.

Mahan reached first on her bunt, but Bennett got a flyout to left field then a groundout to second base to end the inning and strand Mahan on base.

Bennett recorded two strikeouts during a 1-2-3 bottom of the second inning, then Le Moyne freshman shortstop Avery Linn (Bethpage, N.Y./Plainedge) drew a walk to lead off the top of the third.

Boudreau laid down a drag bunt towards the right side and would have beaten the throw had it been accurate, but the ball got away from the first baseman which allowed Linn to advance to third.

Waldron recorded a strikeout for the first out of the inning, then Boudreau stole second during Bergdoll's at bat. As Mahan threw the ball towards second base, Linn took off for home. Geremia cut off the throw in front of the bag, then fired the ball back to Mahan who put the tag on Linn for out number two.

Bergdoll drew a walk to put runners on first and second, then Larobardiere worked a full count before smacking an elevated pitch back up the middle and into center field.

Boudreau got a good jump at second base and scored easily to tie the game at 1-1, while Bergdoll advanced to second.

Benderski stepped to the plate next and jumped on the first pitch she saw, a fastball on the outside part of the plate. Benderski squared the ball up and sent a line drive back up the middle. The ball was hit hard and quickly rolled to the center fielder Jordan Dwyer, who fielded it and fired a one-hopper to the plate. The throw was in time, but Bergdoll's slide was wide to the right of the plate, and Mahan could not hold onto the ball as she lunged to put the tag on Le Moyne's senior first baseman. Bergdoll touched the plate and was ruled safe to give the Dolphins a 2-1 lead.

Benderski and Larobardiere advanced to second and third on the play, then Barrett drew a walk to load the bases following a pitching change.

Sophomore left fielder Elaina Kassap (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) stepped to the plate next and fell behind 1-2 before taking two balls to bring the count full. On the 3-2 delivery, Kassap smoked a line drive back up the middle that looked like it would drive in at least one, possibly two runs. Fortunately for Assumption, Tassone instinctively reacted and stuck her glove in the air. The ball ricocheted off Tassone's mitt and fortuitously bounced into the path of Geremia who stepped on second base for the force out to end the inning and keep the deficit at just one run.

Junior left fielder Abigail Larson ripped a leadoff single for Assumption in the bottom of the fifth, then junior shortstop Summer Sheerin moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.

Dwyer delivered an RBI-triple to right field during the next at bat to tie the game at 2-2. Geremia produced a sacrifice fly to left field with one out to drive in Dwyer and put the Greyhounds back in front, 3-2.

The Dolphins were unable to put a runner in scoring position against Tassone during the final two innings.

With the win, no. 7 Assumption advances to NE10 Championship Weekend where they will meet the no. 3-seed Franklin Pierce on Thursday at Adelphi.

Le Moyne finishes the 2023 campaign with a 23-23 overall record, including a 12-12 resume during regular season conference play.