West Haven, Conn. – The Le Moyne College softball team traveled to New Haven to open their three-game weekend series against the Chargers on Saturday. The teams split their doubleheader with Le Moyne shutting out game one, 9-0, in five innings while New Haven came out on top in walk-off fashion in game two, 2-1.
Game 1:
The Dolphins' offense struck first, putting up a five-spot in the top of the opening inning. Junior second baseman Avery Linn (Bethpage, N.Y./Plainedge) and sophomore center fielder Maddie Martin (Carlisle, Pa. / Cumberland Valley) opened the inning with back-to-back singles before junior Sydney Nesci (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) loaded the bases after getting hit by a pitch. Sophomore third baseman Cianna Benamati (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) drove in Linn for the first run with a single to center field in the next at-bat.
A double off the bat of senior first baseman Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park) cleared the bases and put Le Moyne on top, 4-0, before the team recorded an out. Two batters later, sophomore Ava Todd (Savannah, N.Y. / Tyburn Academy) plated the final run of the inning, driving in Benderski with a single to left field.
After Dolphins' sophomore starter Isabella Kwashek (West Deptford, N.J. / West Deptford) sent down the Chargers' batters in order in the bottom of the frame, Le Moyne added another pair of runs in their half of the second. Nesci scored first on a fielding error after doubling to reach base and advancing to third on a wild pitch. Benderski later crossed the plate on a single from junior DP Arianna Exarchakis (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury), extending the 'Phins lead to seven runs.
Le Moyne added the final two runs of the game in the top of the third as Martin singled and stole second before scoring on another fielding error by New Haven. A single to center by Benamati drove in Nesci later in the frame to give the team a commanding 9-0 lead.
Kwashek allowed just two hits and one walk to Chargers' batters over the final three innings as Le Moyne came away with the 9-0 win in five innings.
She earned the win in a complete game shutout, allowing three total hits and two walks while striking out two batters.
Linn, Martin, Benamati, and Benderski all added a team-high two hits for the Dolphins while Benderski (four) and Benamati (two) led the offense in RBI.
Game 2:
Le Moyne and New Haven combined for 10 baserunners in the opening 3.5 innings of the second leg of their doubleheader before the Chargers finally cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Dolphins' freshman starter Tatum Nessman (Calgary, Alberta / National Sport School) allowed a one-out solo home run to catcher Brianna Trueman as the hosts took their first lead of the day.
The Dolphins answered back to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning as Nesci doubled to right center to lead-off before crossing the plate on an RBI groundout to second off the bat of Benderski.
Despite the teams getting another combined 10 runners on base over the next 5.0 innings, neither team could break the tie until the Chargers walked off the game in the bottom of the 10th inning.
First baseman Lucia Ceccarelli doubled to center to lead-off before advancing to third on a single to right center off the bat of second baseman Cori Wilton. The lead runner came around to score and give New Haven the 2-1 extra-inning win on a sac fly from third baseman Allison Murai.
Nesci led the Dolphins with three hits while scoring the team's lone run in the loss.
Nessman tossed 5.0 innings in the start for Le Moyne, allowing one run on five hits and one walk while striking out a pair. Kwashek hurled the final 4.1 innings in relief, allowing one run on four hits and one walk.
What's Next:
Le Moyne will close out their series with the Chargers in one more matchup at noon tomorrow, Sunday, Mar. 22.
