Rock Hill, S.C. – The Le Moyne College softball team wrapped up the Winthrop Garnet & Gold Tournament with matchups against Kent State and Robert Morris on Saturday. The Dolphins dropped both matchups, falling 6-5 against the Golden Flashes, and 9-1 at the hands of the Colonials.
Game 1:
After both teams went 1-2-3 in the first inning and the Flashes left three runners on base in their half of the second, Le Moyne struck first in the bottom half of the frame.
Sophomore third baseman Cianna Benamati (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) lined a one-out double down the left field line just before senior first baseman Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park) drove her in with a double to right field. Two batters later, sophomore catcher Ava Todd (Savannah, N.Y. / Tyburn Academy) singled up the middle to score Benderski from third.
Up two runs, Dolphin freshman starter Tatum Nessman (Calgary, Alberta / National Sport School) came into the top of the third inning having allowed just two hits before Kent State's offense broke out for five runs in the frame. They combined for six hits with third baseman Gabby Quinn recording an RBI single to center field just one at-bat before first baseman Caleigh Shaulis connected on a two-run homer to take the lead.
Sophomore reliever Danni Simpson (Marietta, G.A./Sprayberry) came in to pitch late in the frame and allowed a single to catcher Tayler Likens before shortstop Ciara Camacho tripled down the right field line to bring the runner across the plate.
The 'Phins lessened their deficit in the bottom of the third as sophomore center fielder Maddie Martin (Carlisle, Pa. / Cumberland Valley) reached on a bunt single and stole second before being driven in to score on a double to left center off the bat of junior right fielder Sydney Nesci (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse).
Two batters later, with runners on second and third, Benamati reached on a fielding error that allowed Nesci to score and brought Le Moyne within one run, 5-4.
The Golden Flashes struck for another run in the top of the following inning as Bryn Libler worked a walk early on and later crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
The Dolphins scored their final run in the bottom half of the inning on a lead-off solo homerun by Todd, the first of her collegiate career.
Both teams went scoreless over the final three innings as Kent State came away with the 6-5 victory.
Benamati and Todd each went 2-4 at the plate while Nesci went 1-3 with a walk in the loss. Todd (2) and Nesci (1) combined for the team's three RBIs.
Game 2:
Following a 1-2-3 top of the first inning for Le Moyne, Robert Morris put up two runs on freshman starter Adrianna Laraway (Colonie, N.Y. / Colonie) as first baseman Mary Brant singled to left field to score shortstop Sequoia Dunlap from third and DP Courtney Poulich advanced home on a fielding error. Two batters later, catcher Aglaia Rudd reached on another error by the 'Phins, allowing right fielder Eloise Facher to cross home plate.
The Colonials added another three runs and claimed a 6-0 advantage in the bottom of the second as an early pair of singles plus a walk loaded the bases for Brant who drove in two runners on a double to left center. The next batter, Facher, grounded out to short to plate Poulich from third.
Robert Morris' squad worked to an 7-0 lead one inning later as center fielder Alivia Hare smacked an RBI double to right center before sophomore Isabella Kwashek (West Deptford, N.J. / West Deptford) came in to pitch for Le Moyne. Two at-bats later, Dunlap singled down the right field line to drive in Hare.
Facing an 8-0 deficit in the top of the fifth inning, freshman Elizabeth Gleghorn (West Henrietta, N.Y. / Rush-Henrietta) was subbed in to pinch hit and sent a solo homer to left field to score the 'Phins only run of the day and mark the second player of the day to record their first career round-tripper.
The Colonials finished out their victory in the bottom of the sixth as Poulich led off the inning with a walk before coming around to score on a sac fly off the bat of Rudd which invoked the run-rule.
Benderski was the lone member of the Dolphins to record multiple hits in the loss while Gleghorn's homerun marked the team's one RBI.
What's Next:
With Le Moyne's scheduled tournament finale against Kent State for tomorrow being canceled due to weather, the team will hit the field next at the Blue Hen Invitational hosted by the University of Delaware in Newark, Del. from Friday-Sunday, Feb. 27-Mar. 1.
