Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College softball team hosted LIU in game one of their weekend three-game conference series on Saturday afternoon. The Dolphins came away with an 11-7 victory behind seven RBI on two home runs including one grand slam from freshman third baseman Cianna Benamati (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) and seven innings in the circle by freshman starting pitcher Nevaeh Ross (Friendship, N.Y./Friendship). The Dolphins now sit 11-21 overall and 3-7 in NEC action this season.
Following a quiet top of the first that saw Ross strikeout the leadoff batter and the inning ending on a caught stealing from senior catcher Elaina Kassap (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) to senior second baseman Dominique Rinaldi (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville), the Dolphins tacked on the first four runs of the game in the bottom half of the inning.
Leadoff batter sophomore shortstop Shannon Gavigan (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) kicked off the inning with a walk before sophomore center fielder Sydney Nesci (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) got on base in the same fashion two batters later. Sophomore DP Arianna Exarchakis (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) loaded the bases in the next-at bat with a single to right field before Benamati came to the plate and walloped a grand slam to left field to give Le Moyne a four-run advantage early.
The Dolphins added three more in the second inning as Gavigan singled through the right side, senior right fielder Alyssa Dybacz (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) doubled to left center, and Nesci walked to reload the bases. Exarchakis reached on a fielder's choice to short in the next at-bat and advanced on an error that scored both lead runners before Benamari lined out to right field to drive in Nesci and give the squad a 7-0 lead.
LIU scratched the scoreboard in the top of the third as left fielder Lily Hinkle hit a solo home run to right field to cut the squad's deficit to six. The team added two more runs in the following inning as a leadoff double and single in the next at-bat put runners on the corners for catcher Jaedyn Lincoln who grounded out to shortstop while driving in the lead runner. Four batters later, DP Alyssa Garcia walked with the bases loaded to bring the Sharks within four runs, at 7-3.
Le Moyne re-extended their lead to eight in the bottom of the fourth as a leadoff double from Nesci led to a run on a fielding error in the team's next at bat. Benamati then came to the plate and again hit a homerun, this time to right center to give the 'Phins a pair of runs, for her first career multi-home run game. Junior first baseman Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park) followed it up with a solo shot of her own, her fifth of the year, to give the team an 11-3 lead.
The Sharks added three more runs to avoid the game ending early in the top of the fifth as first baseman Jen Rodriguez singled up the middle to score third baseman Alyssa Polemeni before second baseman Priscilla Gillies reached on a fielding error that scored shortstop Hannah Burnett, and Garcia walked in a run late in the frame.
The final run of the game came around to score in the top of the sixth as Rodriguez flew out to center to drive in right fielder Nyae' Dick who doubled to right field earlier in the inning. Ross then got Polemeni to strikeout swinging to end the game and seal the Dolphins 11-7 victory in the top of the seventh.
Offensively, eight of Le Moyne's nine starters recorded a hit in the win as Benamati led the squad with three hits, a pair of home runs, and seven RBI. Nesci tallied three runs scored and a team-high two walks for Le Moyne.
In the circle, Ross hurled her fourth complete game of the season, earning the win by allowing seven runs (five earned) on 13 hits and six walks while striking out three in seven innings.
What's Next:
Le Moyne will finish up their season series against LIU at home tomorrow, Sunday, Apr. 13 in a doubleheader with start times scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
