Loudonville, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College softball team traveled to Siena College and took on the Saints in their final non-conference doubleheader of the season on Wednesday afternoon. The Dolphins split the two-game set, falling 4-1 in game one before taking a back-and-forth 7-6 victory in nine innings in game two.
Game 1:
Le Moyne's freshman starter Nevaeh Ross (Friendship, N.Y./Friendship) worked through the first three innings in scoreless fashion before the Saints struck for all four of their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
A lead-off single through the left side, sac bunt, and subsequent single up the middle put runners on the corners before shortstop Carlie Venables singled down the right field line to lead the lead runner. One batter later, left fielder Lauren Melton tripled down the left field line to drive in both runners left on base. Leading 3-0, Swison came to bat and singled through the left side to drive in Melton before junior Rose Nicastro (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) appeared in relief for the 'Phins and recorded the final two outs of the inning.
Nicastro kept the Saints scoreless through their final two times at the plate, as Le Moyne cracked the scoreboard in the top of the seventh. Freshman third baseman Cianna Benamati (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) led off the frame with a single to center field before stealing second and advancing to third on a throwing error. She came in to score due to a single through the left side from sophomore DP Arianna Exarchakis (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury).
The squad was unable to mount a comeback in the inning and fell, 4-1, in game one.
Benamati, Exarchakis, and senior catcher Elaina Kassap (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) tallied the Dolphins' three hits of the game while Nicastro finished out the game in the circle allowing zero runs on zero hits while walking two in 2.2 innings pitched.
Game 2:
The Dolphins got out to a 3-0 lead in game two, scoring three runs on four hits all with two outs in the top of the fourth. Sophomore DP Alexandra Chesney (Malverne, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) and senior second baseman Dominique Rinaldi (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) put together back-to-back singles before sophomore pinch hitter Molly Wolf (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) singled to left field while driving in Chesney's pinch runner, sophomore Kara Bacon (Warrensburg, N.Y./Warrensburg).
Junior pinch hitter Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park) singled through the right side in the next at-bat to score Rinaldi before Wolf's pinch runner, sophomore Gabriella Zarcone (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East), scored on a double steal before the inning wrapped up.
The Saints stormed back and took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, first as Melton singled to left field to set up a triple to center from right fielder McKenzie Swinson which scored the runner. A walk, hit-by-pitch, and single up the middle off the bat of first baseman Emma Petersen led to another pair of runs before back-to-back walks forced in the fourth run of the inning.
Down to their final at-bats, the Dolphins tied the game at four and forced extra innings as freshman center fielder Maddie Martin (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) walked and crossed the plate on a double to center off the bat of sophomore shortstop Shannon Gavigan (Havertown, Pa./Haverford).
The squad added another pair of runs in the top of the eighth as Exarchakis singled up the middle to drive in Benamati, the ghost runner, from second base. A single to center from Chesney pushed Exarchakis to third base before Rinaldi reached on a throwing error that allowed the lead runner to cross the plate and the 'Phins to go up, 6-4.
Siena tied the game right back up in their half of the inning, as a groundout from center fielder Chloe Cummings and infield single off the bat of catcher Ella Milante plated two runs.
The final run of the game came in the top of the ninth as Benamati singled to shortstop with two outs to score sophomore center fielder Sydney Nesci (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) from second base before freshman pitcher Isabella Kwashek (West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford) wrapped up the game with a quick 1-2-3 bottom half of the inning.
Nine different Dolphins tallied a hit in the game two victory with Chesney leading the way with three. Five of Le Moyne's batters also recorded an RBI against the Saints.
Kwashek ended her showing by allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out five and earning the victory in game two. She started the game and threw 4.2 innings before re-entering and finishing out the final three innings for the Dolphins.
What's Next:
Le Moyne will host NEC rival Stonehill College in their final series of the 2025 season this coming weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 3-4. The games, which are scheduled as a 1:00 p.m./3:00 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday with one final game at noon on Sunday, were originally set for the weekend of Mar. 29-30 and postponed due to weather.
