Brooklyn, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College softball team finished out their weekend series at LIU with one game on Sunday. The Dolphins fell just short, 5-4, in the final game of their three-game set.
Following a quiet top of the first for Le Moyne's offense, the Sharks worked a pair of walks and a single to load the bases but Dolphins' freshman starter Tatum Nessman (Calgary, Alberta / National Sport School) was able to strikeout back-to-back hitters to work out of the jam.
LIU added their first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning as catcher Kaylee Clarkson was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a two-out double to left field off the bat of center fielder Lily Hinkle.
The Dolphins took their first lead of the series in the top of the fourth inning as senior first baseman Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park) walked early in the frame before junior DP Arianna Exarchakis (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) got on base with a single to the pitcher.
Their pinch runners, juniors Gabriella Zarcone (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East) and Shannon Gavigan (Havertown, Pa/Haverford), moved to second and third on a grounder before crossing the plate and giving the team a 2-1 lead on a two-RBI single to left field by freshman pinch hitter Elizabeth Gleghorn (West Henrietta, N.Y. / Rush-Henrietta).
The Sharks responded immediately in their half of the inning, tying the game at 2-2, as left fielder Anais Soto doubled to left field and advanced to third on a sac bunt before scoring on a fielding error by the 'Phins.
The hosts took a three-run lead in the bottom of the fifth inning as right fielder Nyae' Villalta doubled to center to lead off before DP Jen Rodriguez and third baseman Jaedyn Lincoln connected on back-to-back singles. Lincoln's base hit plated both of the lead runners.
Later in the inning, after Le Moyne made a pitching change to sophomore Isabella Kwashek (West Deptford, N.J. / West Deptford), shortstop Hannah Burnett sliced a sac fly out to right to drive in Lincoln and put the Sharks ahead, 5-2.
Le Moyne fought back in the top of the sixth as Exarchakis and freshman catcher Camryn Shenk (Rome, N.Y. / Camden) led off the inning with consecutive singles before moving up to second and third on a sac bunt off the bat of freshman shortstop Coral Enscoe (Webster, N.Y. / Bishop Kearney). The team lessened their deficit to one run, 5-4, on a two-RBI single from freshman left fielder Kayla Dunkerley (Purcellville, Va. / Loudon Valley).
After holding LIU scoreless in the bottom half of the frame, Benderski worked a walk to get a runner on in the final inning of play for the Dolphins, but they were unable to bring her around and fell by one run in the series closer.
Exarchakis led with three hits while Gleghorn and Dunkerley each registered two RBI in the loss.
Nessman finished the start allowing five runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out a pair through four innings. Kwashek finished out the final 2.0 innings, allowing no runs on zero hits and one walk while striking out one LIU batter.
What's Next:
Le Moyne will travel to West Haven, Conn. to take on NEC-newcomer New Haven in a three-game set next weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 21-22.
