Brooklyn, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College softball team opened 2026 NEC action with a doubleheader at LIU on Saturday. The Sharks shutout the Dolphins in game one, 8-0, in six innings before coming out on top once again, 12-4, in five innings in game two.
Game 1:
After getting through the first two innings unscathed in the circle for Le Moyne, sophomore starter Isabella Kwashek (West Deptford, N.J. / West Deptford) allowed four runs on hour hits in the bottom of the third inning.
Three straight singles early in the inning for LIU led to first baseman Devon Medina scoring from second base before an RBI ground-out off the bat of third baseman Jaedyn Lincoln plated right fielder Nyae' Villalta. Later in the frame, shortstop Hannah Burnett singled through the right side to drive in pinch runner Sarah Wall and left fielder Anais Soto.
The Dolphins got their only runner of the game to third base in the top of the fifth inning as junior DP Arianna Exarchakis (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) walked to get one with one out before being pinch run for by junior utility player Gabriella Zarcone (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East). Zarcone stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch but was unable to cross the plate to crack the scoreboard for Le Moyne.
The Sharks tacked on another run in their half of the inning as Soto singled to third and later advanced around the diamond on a stolen base and fielding error by the Dolphins.
Following a lead-off double from center fielder Lily Hinkle in the bottom of the sixth, Le Moyne sophomore Danni Simpson (Marietta, Ga. / Sprayberry) was brought in to relieve Kwashek in the circle, but allowed two runs to score on three walks and one hit batter as LIU took a 7-0 lead just four at-bats later.
Freshman Tatum Nessman (Calgary, Alberta / National Sport School) was up for the Dolphins and induced a strikeout from Soto for the first out of the inning before second baseman Samantha Gallegos drove in Villalta on a sac fly to center, invoking the run rule and giving the Sharks the 8-0 victory.
Le Moyne's offense went hitless through the six inning matchup, with walks from Exarchakis and freshman shortstop Coral Enscoe (Webster, N.Y. / Bishop Kearney) marking the team's lone base runners on a pair of walks.
Kwashek finished her outing allowing six runs (five earned) on 11 hits and one walk while striking out one LIU batter. Simpson and Nessman combined for 0.2 innings of relief, allowing two runs on zero hits and three walks while striking out one.
Game 2:
The Sharks struck first once again in the second set, as an RBI grounder off the bat of DP Jen Rodriguez was followed by a two-run homer to center field by Lincoln. Le Moyne's starter, Nessman, got out of the inning without allowing any further damage as LIU led, 3-0, after the bottom of the first inning.
After a quick top of the second for the Dolphins' offense, LIU tacked on two more runs in their half of the inning as a lead-off walk followed by Burnett reaching on an error led to an RBI grounder from catcher Kaylee Clarkson and a run–scoring single off the bat of Hinkle.
Le Moyne cut their deficit to one run in the top of the fourth inning as sophomore center fielder Maddie Martin (Carlisle, Pa. / Cumberland Valley) led off the inning with a bunt single just before junior right fielder Sydney Nesci (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) drove them both in on a two-run homer.
The Dolphins' next batter, sophomore third baseman Cianna Benamati (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake), reached base on a fielding error before senior first baseman Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park) tacked on the team's second two-run home run of the inning to bring them closer, 5-4, by the end of the frame.
Following a pitching change that brought Kwashek into the circle in the bottom of the fifth, LIU added their sixth run of the game on a bases-loaded infield single from Villalta.
The Sharks added six runs in their half of the fifth inning to walk off the game due to the run rule as Burnett kicked off the scoring with a two-RBI homer to center field early in the inning.
Le Moyne then brought in freshman Adrianna Laraway (Colonie, N.Y. / Colonie) to relieve Kwashek before four straight base hits knocked in another pair of runs for LIU.
After loading the bases on a hit-by-pitch, Medina scored on a wild pitch to put the hosts up, 11-4, before Soto closed out the game with a single up the middle which plated Villalta for the team's 12th run.
Martin led the team going 2-2 at the plate with a run scored while Nesci and Benderski each added two RBI on one hit apiece.
Nessman allowed six runs (four earned) on four hits and three walks through 3.0 innings. Kwashek tossed 1.1 innings in relief, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one. Laraway retired the final one LIU batter, allowing four runs on five hits in the process.
What's Next:
Le Moyne will close out their series with the Sharks in one more matchup at 12:00 p.m. tomorrow, Sunday, Mar. 15.
