Morehead State University Athletics

SOFTBALL TO OPEN NEC ACTION WITH THREE GAMES AT LIU THIS WEEKEND

3/11/2026 7:03:00 PM

By: Dylan Dariano, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant

Brooklyn, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College softball team will travel to LIU and open 2026 NEC action against the Sharks in a three-game series this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 14-15. The teams will play at 1:00 p.m./3:00 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday before finishing out the set with one game at noon on Sunday.

Season Summary:
Le Moyne has played to a 3-14 record through the conclusion of their early season tournaments in Clinton, S.C., Winthrop, S.C., Newark, Del., and Farmville, Va. to start the year.

The squad opened the season at the Blue Hose Invitational with losses at the hands of Dayton (7-3) and Presbyterian (2-1) on Feb. 6 before coming out on top against Morehead State, 19-16, the following day. They closed out the weekend with a five inning 10-1 loss against Western Michigan on Feb. 8.

From Feb. 13-14, the Dolphins traveled to compete in the Winthrop Garnet & Gold Tournament, and came away with losses against Robert Morris twice (12-4, 9-1), Winthrop (7-4), and Kent State (6-5).

The following weekend, the team took on Bryant and Delaware twice each at the Blue Hen Invitational and came away with four losses. Bryant took down the 'Phins, 19-11, in six innings in game one and 9-0 in five innings in game two while Delaware came away with 9-3 and 8-0 victories over Le Moyne.

To round out non-conference play, the Dolphins went 2-3 at the Longwood Spring Break Classic from Mar. 6-8. The team fell to Youngstown twice (9-0, 4-3) and the host Lancers (7-1) before finishing out the tournament with a pair of wins over Lafayette, 3-1 and 6-2.

Stat Leaders:
Through 17 team games, senior infielder Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park) leads all qualified bats with an .896 OPS, posting a team-high .489 slugging rate and sitting just behind junior outfielder Sydney Nesci (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) for second on the team with a .407 on-base percentage. Benderski also ranks tied for second in batting average with Nesci, hitting .289 (13-45) while starting in every game thus far.

Benderski has added a team-high two homers, three doubles, five RBI, and eight runs scored while working eight walks.

Nesci has also recorded three doubles and five RBI in 45 at-bats this season, while leading the team in walks with 10 and stealing one base in 17 starts.

Sophomore centerfielder Maddie Martin (Carlisle, Pa. / Cumberland Valley) has gone 15-41 in the box while also starting in every team game, tallying three doubles, five RBI, eight runs scored and a team-best nine stolen bases on nine attempts.

Junior DP Arianna Exarchakis (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) leads the 'Phins with nine RBI while walking nine times this season and adding one homerun for a .234/.357/.298 slash line.

Sophomore catcher Ava Todd (Savannah, N.Y. / Tyburn Academy) is second on the team with a .773 OPS through 14 games played, going 7-29 (.241) at the plate with two doubles, one triple, and one round-tripper to go along with four RBI and six runs scored.

In the circle, sophomore Isabella Kwashek (West Deptford, N.J. / West Deptford) leads all Dolphins with a 4.89 ERA in six starts and five relief appearances in 34.1 innings pitched so far this season. She also leads the team in WHIP with a 1.89 mark while registering one complete game, one save, and a 1-4 record.

Series History:
LIU holds a 5-1 all-time series advantage against Le Moyne since the Dolphins began their transition to NCAA Division I and joined the NEC prior to the 2024 season.

LIU swept the season set in Brooklyn in May 2024, coming away with 3-1, 8-0, and 6-3 wins over Le Moyne.

The 'Phins then grabbed one victory in their three games against the Sharks in Syracuse last season, winning 11-7 in game one before falling 9-7 and 17-5 in the final two matchups.

In their win last season, eight of Le Moyne's nine starters recorded a hit as current sophomore corner infielder Cianna Benamati (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) ed 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.

Newcomers:
The Dolphins have brought in six freshmen this offseason, including utility players Coral Enscoe (Webster, N.Y. / Bishop Kearney) and Adrianna Laraway (Colonie, N.Y. / Colonie), catchers Camryn Shenk (Rome, N.Y. / Camden) and Elizabeth Gleghorn (West Henrietta, N.Y. / Rush-Henrietta), outfielder Kayla Dunkerley (Purcellville, Va. / Loudon Valley), and pitcher Tatum Nessman (Calgary, Alberta / National Sport School).

NEC Outlook:
Le Moyne was selected to finish fifth in the regular season standings in the NEC preseason coaches' poll, after going 7-11 in conference play a year ago. They placed behind favorite LIU, CCSU, FDU, and Wagner while ranking ahead of Saint Francis, Stonehill, Mercyhurst, and New Haven.

2026 NEC Weekly Award Winners & Prime Performers:
Dolphins players have earned two NEC Weekly Awards and eight NEC Prime Performer honors so far this season.

Rookies of the Week:
Tatum Nessman (Feb. 10)
Kayla Dunkerley (Mar. 10)

Prime Performers:
Maddie Martin (Feb. 10)
Shannon Gavigan (Feb. 10)
Sydney Nesci (Feb. 17)
Cianna Benamati (Mar. 3)
Audrey Benderski (Mar. 3, Mar. 10)
Kayla Dunkerley (Mar. 10)
Adrianna Laraway (Mar. 10)

Coach Roman:
Tracey Roman was named the head coach of the Le Moyne softball program on Oct. 7, 2019 after gaining over 20 years of coaching experience as an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts, head coach for the Baldwinsville Central School District, Cicero Renegades, and Sports Zone organizations, and head coach and recruiting coordinator with the UNY Revolution club program.

Scouting the Sharks:
LIU possesses a 1-23 record through the conclusion of their non-conference slate, with 2026 marking head coach Rich Calvert's first as leader of the program.

The Sharks opened the season at the FGCU Kickoff Classic on Opening Weekend, before traveling to The Spring Games, the Gopher Classic, and the UCSB Tournament to close out February winless through their first 20 games played.

Last weekend, the team rounded out early-season play with a 1-3 showing at the Cardinal Classic hosted by Ball State, earning their first victory of the year in their second matchup against Bellarmine, 2-1.

Senior outfielder Nyae' Villalta leads the team with a .359/.479/.590/1.069 slash line, ranking first in each statistical category for the Sharks. Villalta has batted 14-39 in 16 starts and another six appearances, recording three doubles, two homers, five RBI, eight runs scored, and seven walks.

Senior first baseman/outfielder Devon Medina has a team-high nine RBI while junior outfielder Lily Hinkle has added team-bests in walks (11), runs scored (10), and stolen bases (seven).

Senior pitcher Gigi Clavel leads LIU with a 6.18 ERA in five starts and 13 relief spots, going 1-5 on the year with one complete game in 51.0 innings of work.

LIU added two freshmen to their squad after going 26-23 overall and falling just short to Saint Francis in the NEC Championship game last season.

The Sharks were voted to finish first in the NEC's Preseason Coaches Poll after going 16-5 and winning the regular season title a season ago.

What's Next:
Le Moyne will travel to New Haven to take on the NEC-newcomer Chargers in a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 21-22.

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