Norfolk, Va. – Graduate student righty Laura Bennett (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) struck out 10 and freshman center fielder Sydney Nesci (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) homered to lead the Le Moyne College softball team to a 4-0 victory over Norfolk State University on Sunday afternoon at the NSU Softball Field. In their second game of the day, the Dolphins were edged by Quinnipiac University, 4-3.

The Dolphins scored the only run they would need against Norfolk State in the second inning on a two-out home run to left field by Nesci.

Le Moyne tacked on three runs on two hits and two Norfolk State errors in the top of the sixth inning. Sophomore designated player Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park) led off the frame with a home run to center field. Redshirt junior third baseman Frankie Larobardiere (North Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse/Onondaga C.C.) followed with a single to left field and was replaced at first by sophomore pinch runner/shortstop Avery Linn (Bethpage, N.Y./Plainedge). Following a sacrifice bunt, junior shortstop/third baseman Dominique Rinaldi (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) reached on a throwing error by the pitcher, which allowed Linn to come around to score and Rinaldi to reach second. Redshirt junior second baseman Brooke Nicolaos (Liverpool, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) then reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, which allowed Rinaldi to score.

Norfolk State loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh and had the potential tying run at the plate, but Bennett registered her 10th strikeout of the game to close out the victory.

Bennett struck out at least one batter in each inning and had three innings with two strikeouts, while scattering seven hits to earn her first victory of the season. Junior right fielder Alyssa Dybacz (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) had four hits, while Benderski finished with a pair. Maddy Morris took the loss in the circle for Norfolk State after yielding one run over three and one-third innings.

The Dolphins struck first against Quinnipiac with a run on one hit and one Bobcat error in the bottom of the second. Larobardiere singled to right field with one out, moved to second on a passed ball, took third on a sacrifice bunt and scored as graduate student catcher Brandi Feeney (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse/Saint Peter's) reached on a throwing error by the pitcher.

Quinnipiac answered with a pair of runs on two hits and one error in the top of the third. Center fielder Amanda Engel led off with a double to center, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored as left fielder Mary Fogg reached on a throwing error by the pitcher. After designated player Abby LaClair walked and shortstop Natalia Apatiga singled to the pitcher, right fielder Ally Hochstadter walked to force in Fogg.

Le Moyne evened the score at one apiece in the bottom of the fourth. Rinaldi reached on a fielding error by the first baseman with one out, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and came around to score on a single to center by freshman pitcher Arianna Exarchakis (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury).

The Bobcats regained the lead with two runs on one hit and one error in the fifth. Fogg walked to start the inning and stole second with one out. After an out and a single to the shortstop by first baseman Hannah Davis, Hochstadter reached on an error by the first baseman, which allowed Fogg and Davis to score.

Dybacz homered to center with one out in the bottom of the fifth to pull the Dolphins within one run. Graduate student first baseman Mackenzie Bergdoll (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro) and Benderski followed with singles, but the next batter hit into a double play to end the inning.

Exarchakis suffered the loss in the circle after yielding four runs (one earned) over five-plus innings, while striking out two. Jaclyn Gonzalez earned her eighth win of the year after going the distance, while striking out three and scattering seven hits.

Le Moyne (2-11) wraps up its trip to Norfolk on Monday at 11:00 a.m. against Syracuse University.