Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College softball team hosted and shutout Niagara University, 9-0, in five innings on Thursday afternoon. The Dolphins' victory which saw six different players record an RBI, brought them to 9-19 overall this season.
After freshman starter Isabella Kwashek (West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford) shut down the Purple Eagles 1-2-3 in the top of the first, Le Moyne brought in five runs in their half of the inning. Early in the frame senior second baseman Dominique Rinaldi (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) reached on a fielder's choice before senior right fielder Alyssa Dybacz (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) and sophomore center fielder Sydney Nesci (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) both walked to load the bases. During the next at-bat, all three runners advanced on a wild pitch with Rinaldi crossing the plate and giving the squad their first run of the afternoon.
The at-bat resulted in a sac fly from sophomore DP Arianna Exarchakis (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) that drove in Dybacz and advanced Nesci to third. The following batter, freshman third baseman Cianna Benamati (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake), singled through the left side to bring Nesci in and give the 'Phins a 3-0 lead. After junior first baseman Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park) singled to right field to put runners on the corners, senior catcher Elaina Kassap (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) brought in the final two runs of the frame on a double to right center.
Niagara threatened in the top of the second, loading the bases with two outs, but Kwashek was able to force a swinging strikeout to end the rally.
Le Moyne added two more runs in the second as Rinaldi walked to reach base before sprinting all the way home as Dybacz doubled to right center. Two batters later with runs on the corners, Dybacz and Nesci attempted a double steal with Nesci being called out at second and Dybacz crossing the plate to put the team up by seven runs.
The squad added their final two runs of the game in the following frame as Benderski singled, Kassap walked, and sophomore left fielder Gabriella Zarcone (smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East) was hit by a pitch to load the bases quickly. Sophomore pinch runner Kara Bacon (Warrensburg, N.Y./Warrensburg) was driven in first by a grounder from fellow sophomore shortstop Shannon Gavigan (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) before Rinaldi hit a sac fly to center to bring in junior pinch runner Alayna Bush (Adams, N.Y./South Jefferson).
Up 9-0 at the start of the fourth, the Dolphins brought in freshman Nevaeh Ross (Friendship, N.Y./Friendship) to finish out the game in the circle. Through the final two innings, she put together consecutive no-hit frames with a pair of strikeouts to finish off Niagara in five innings.
Kwashek finished out the day allowing no runs on two hits with one walk while striking out one in three innings of play, earning the win.
On offense, Kassap led with a pair of RBI while Benderski registered a team-high two hits in the win. Both Rinaldi and Dybacz scored two runs as the squad struck out zero times in five innings of play.
What's Next:
Le Moyne will travel to Staten Island, N.Y. to take on the Wagner College Seahawks University in a three-game NEC set this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 5 and 6.
