Clinton, S.C. – The Le Moyne College softball team closed out the Blue Hose Invitational with a matchup against the Western Michigan Broncos on Sunday morning. The Broncos came out on top, 10-1, in five innings as the Dolphins now sit with a 1-3 record after Opening Weekend.
Western Michigan struck first for three runs in the top of the second inning as catcher Tristen Head reached on a throwing error to lead-off before second baseman Caitlin Tighe got on base on a fielder's choice. After both runners moved up on a passed ball, right fielder Megan Malartisk drove in the pair on a triple to left field off 'Phins freshman starter Adrianna Laraway (Colonie, N.Y. / Colonie). The next batter, first baseman Liliana Janeczko, grounded out to shortstop to bring Malartisk home.
The Broncos added another three runs in the following inning, as well, as DP Jordan Smith singled up the middle and Head was hit by a pitch early in the frame. Tighe drove in all three runs on a homer to left center to extend the team's lead to 6-0.
Following a pitching change for Le Moyne which brought in freshman Tatum Nessman (Calgary, Alberta / National Sport School), Tighe added another pair of RBIs on a triple to right center in the fourth before Smith and pinch hitter Rylee O'Brien added a pair of runs on infield grounders the following inning. Heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Dolphins faced a 10-0 deficit.
Le Moyne drove in their lone run in the inning as junior DP Arianna Exarchakis (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) single up the middle to lead-off the frame. Freshman Kayla Dunkerley (Purcellville, Va. / Loudon Valley) was brought in as a pinch runner and advanced to second and third on groundouts off the bats of junior second baseman Gabriella Zarcone (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East) and senior pinch hitter Alexandra Chesney (Malverne, N.Y. /Sacred Heart Academy).
Dunkerley reached home on a wild pitch to avoid the shutout but it wasn't enough for the Dolphins as they fell, 10-1, in five innings due to the run rule.
Exarchakis, junior shortstop Shannon Gavigan (Havertown, Pa/Haverford), and sophomore center fielder Maddie Martin (Carlisle, Pa. / Cumberland Valley) recorded Le Moyne's three hits in the loss.
Laraway tossed 3.0 innings and allowed eight runs (seven earned) on six hits, three walks, and one hit batter while striking out a pair. In relief, Nessman allowed two earned runs on three hits while striking out one in 2.0 innings of work.
What's Next:
Le Moyne (1-3) will travel to Rock Hill, S.C. to take part in the Winthrop Garnet & Gold Tournament next weekend, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 13-15.
