West Haven, Conn. – The Le Moyne College softball team took on New Haven in the rubber match of their three-game weekend set on Sunday afternoon. The Dolphins came away with a 4-3 victory in eight innings to earn their first NEC series win of the season.
The Dolphins jumped ahead early, taking a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Junior second baseman Avery Linn (Bethpage, N.Y./Plainedge) singled to second base to lead-off before advancing to second on a sacrifice grounder off the bat of sophomore center fielder Maddie Martin (Carlisle, Pa. / Cumberland Valley). Sophomore third baseman Cianna Benamati (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) drove in the runner with a double to right center field two at-bats later.
Le Moyne tacked on another run to extend their lead in their half of the second as sophomore catcher Ava Todd (Savannah, N.Y. / Tyburn Academy) singled to right field before crossing the plate on a single to center from Linn.
The visitors added another run to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the third as Benamati doubled to left field before being driven in on a single to right field off the bat of junior DP Arianna Exarchakis (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury).
After four scoreless innings on offense, the Chargers stormed back in their half of the fifth inning with a two-out rally to tie the game at 3-3. Following a pair of quick groundouts to kick off the frame, shortstop Bri Pellicone walked before left fielder Alivia Imbimbo was hit by a pitch and right fielder Peyton Sullivan reached base on another walk to load the bases. The next batter, catcher Brianna Trueman, doubled to center field to clear the bases and finished the day for Le Moyne's freshman starter Tatum Nessman (Calgary, Alberta / National Sport School).
Sophomore Isabella Kwashek (West Deptford, N.J. / West Deptford) entered in the circle for the 'Phins and closed out the final 3.1 innings of the game while holding New Haven scoreless.
The Dolphins' go-ahead run came in the top of the eighth as junior right fielder Sydney Nesci (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) connected on her second home run of the season to lead-off the frame.
Despite getting two runners on in the bottom half of the eighth, the Chargers were unable to score and tie the game as Le Moyne came away with the series win in extras.
Linn, Nesci, Benamati, and Todd led the Dolphins with two hits apiece while each scoring a run for the team in the win.
Nessman tossed 4.2 innings in the start, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks while striking out three batters. Kwashek earned the win, allowing no runs on one hit and one walk through the final 3.1 innings of play.
What's Next:
Le Moyne will head to the state capital for a non-conference 2:00 p.m./4:00 p.m. doubleheader at UAlbany next Wednesday, Mar. 25.
