New Britain, Conn. – The Le Moyne College softball team wrapped up their weekend series against Central Connecticut State and claimed their first conference victory of the season on Sunday afternoon. The Dolphins' 4-3 victory over the Blue Devils pushes them to 8-15 overall and 1-2 in NEC action this season.
Le Moyne plated two runs in the top of the first inning to give them an early advantage behind senior second baseman Dominique Rinaldi (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) walking and advancing to third on a double to right center off the bat of sophomore center fielder Sydney Nesci (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse). Freshman third baseman Cianna Benamati (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) drove in both runners on a single that dropped into left field two batters later.
Freshman starter Nevaeh Ross (Friendship, N.Y./Friendship) kept the game scoreless in the bottom of the frame, inducing a one-out bases-loaded double-play to end the inning.
The 'Phins added two more in the second as senior catcher Elaina Kassap (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) doubled to leadoff the inning before her pinch runner, junior Alayna Bush (Adams, N.Y./South Jefferson), advanced to third in the next at-bat. Bush came around to score as shortstop Shannon Gavigan (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) singled to right field one batter later. After moving to second on a bunt from Rinaldi, Gavigan crossed the plate due to a Nesci single to center field.
The squad held their 4-0 lead until the bottom of the fifth as DP Ashley Viesta reached first on an error to leadoff the inning before catcher Regan Vunak sent a shot over the left center wall for a two-run homerun.
Freshman Isabella Kwashek (West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford) was called on in relief of Ross and finished out the inning thanks in part to a great relay from Nesci in center to Rinaldi at second base and finally to Kassap at home plate that led to shortstop Ava Cino being tagged for the third out.
CCSU worked a rally in the bottom of the seventh as they attempted to claw back into the game, and a single, walk, and unsuccessful fielder's choice allowed the Blue Devils to load the bases with just one out. The next batter, Cino, singled to right field to score Vunak and bring them back within one run before Ross re-entered in the circle for Le Moyne and registered the final two outs of the game.
Ross earned the win and moved to 5-6 on the year after allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks while striking out four, as well. Kwashek tossed the other 2.1 innings for the Dolphins, allowing one run (zero earned) on three hits and one walk.
At the plate, Benamati and Nesci both went 2-3 while Benamati added a pair of RBI and Nesci tallied one RBI and one run scored. Four other Dolphins also recorded a hit against CCSU in the win.
What's Next:
Le Moyne will travel to Saint Francis University to take on the Red Flash in a three-game NEC set next Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 22-23.
