Rock Hill, S.C. – The Le Moyne College softball team opened its Division I era by falling to Appalachian State University and Winthrop University on Friday on the first day of the Winthrop Eagle Classic. The Dolphins fell to App State, 12-3, in their season opener and then were edged by the host Eagles, 3-2, in the evening.

Le Moyne opened the game's scoring against App State in the bottom of the second inning as graduate student catcher Brandi Feeney (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse/Saint Peter's) blasted a one-out solo home run.

The Mountaineers blew the game open with eight runs on nine hits and one Le Moyne error in the top of the sixth inning. Right fielder Kayt Houston led off with a home run to knot the score at one. After shortstop Grace Barrett and designated player Peyton Darnell singled and moved up a base on a groundout, second baseman Killian Roberts doubled to drive in the duo. Following another out and a single by catcher Brooke Kennerly, pinch-hitter Riley Becker doubled to knock in pinch-runner Neveah Hildebrandt. Left fielder Abby Cunningham followed with a single to plate center fielder Addie Wray and Kennerly. After a double by Houston, Barrett singled to drive in Cunningham and Houston for an 8-1 lead.

App State tacked on four runs in the seventh on three hits. Following two groundouts to start the frame, Kennerly and Wray singled and Cunningham reached on a passed ball on a strikeout, which allowed Kennerly to score. Houston then launched a three-run homer to complete her team's scoring.

The Dolphins pushed across two runs in the bottom of the seventh. After graduate student first baseman Mckenzie Bergdoll (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro) led off with a single, redshirt junior third baseman Frankie Larobardiere (North Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse/Onondaga C.C.) drilled a home run.

In the nightcap, Winthrop scored all of the runs it would need with three on three hits in the bottom of the first inning. Right fielder Paige Rivas led off with a single to left field, stole second with one out and moved to third on a single to right by pitcher Megan Powell. After first baseman Ansley Lee was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Rivas raced home on a wild pitch. Third baseman Emma Jackson then tripled to right field to drive in Powell and Ansley.

Le Moyne scored twice in the top of the fourth, but were unable to tie the score. Sophomore designated player Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park) led off with a double to right and was replaced at second by classmate Alayna Bush (Adams, N.Y./South Jefferson). After a pair of outs, freshman pinch-hitter Sydney Nesci (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) blasted a home run to left field to pull the Dolphins within 3-2.

The Dolphins had a batter reach in the fifth and sixth, but neither was able to advance past first base.

Freshman Arianna Exarchakis (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) suffered the loss in the circle in her first collegiate start after yielding three runs and eight hits over six innings, while striking out eight. Junior second baseman Dominique Rinaldi (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) led the Dolphins at the plate with two hits. Powell earned her second win of the year after striking out three over four innings, while yielding two runs on five hits. Mackenzie Smith picked up the save after tossing the final three innings.

Le Moyne (0-2) is back in action on Saturday with games against the University of South Carolina-Upstate at 10:00 a.m. and Monmouth University at 3:00 p.m.