New Britain Conn. – The Le Moyne College softball team opened up 2025 conference action in a doubleheader on the road against Central Connecticut State on Saturday afternoon. The 'Phins dropped both matchups to the Blue Devils, 9-1 and 2-1, to move to 7-15 overall and 0-2 in NEC play this season.

Game 1:
Following a top of the first in which Le Moyne left one runner on base, the Blue Devils got on the board early in the bottom of the frame as DP Ashley Viesta got on the paths after singling to second base before catcher Reagan Vunak doubled to left center and drove the runner in before being tagged out trying to advance to third. 

CCSU held their 1-0 lead until the top of the third as senior catcher Elaina Kassap (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) doubled to third base to lead off for the Dolphins before Shannon Gavigan (Havertown Pa./Haverford) drove in her pinch runner, junior Alayna Bush (Adams, N.Y./South Jefferson), to tie the game. 

Le Moyne's freshman starter Nevaeh Ross (Friendship, N.Y./Friendship) held the Blue Devils in check until the bottom of the fourth inning when they once again took the lead as Vunak singled to center to lead off one batter before third baseman KC Machado homered to right center. 

The big rally that ultimately ended the game in five innings came in CCSU's half of the fifth as first baseman Grace Lawton doubled to left to lead off before center fielder Ashlyn Desaulniers singled to third to advance the runner. In the next at-bat, Viesta singled to center and drove in Lawton's pinch runner before Vunak walked to load the bases. A sac fly off the bat of Machado scored another run, giving the Blue Devils a 5-1 lead, before second baseman Skylar Warn singled to center to score Viesta.

The Blue Devils ended the game early via the run rule two batters later as shortstop Ava Cino doubled to center field to clear the bases, giving the squad a 9-1 victory. 

Game 2:
Freshman starter Isabella Kwashek (West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford) induced three consecutive infield grounders in the bottom of the first before CCSU grabbed another early lead in the bottom of the second in the second leg of the doubleheader.

Machado and Warn singled to center to open the inning in back-to-back at-bats before left fielder Joslyn Teal reached on a fielder's choice. Two batters later, Warn came around to score on a passed ball to put the Blue Devils up, 1-0.

CCSU drove in their final run of the day in the bottom of the third as Desauliners walked and stole second before Viesta singled and the runner was allowed to score on a 'Phins' error.

Le Moyne put together a rally in the sixth, as senior Dominique Rinaldi (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) reached on an infield single to lead off before sophomore DP Arianna Exarchakis (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) walked to push her into scoring position. The next batter, freshman third baseman Cianna Benamati (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake), singled to right and drove in Rinaldi, pulling Le Moyne within one run.

Despite putting two runners on base with no outs in the top of the seventh, the Dolphins were unable to get a run across and fell to the Blue Devils, 2-1.

Kwashek's final line was two runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts over six innings pitched.

What's Next:
Le Moyne will wrap up their season series against Central Connecticut State at noon tomorrow, Sunday, Mar. 16.