Farmville, Va. – The Le Moyne College softball team traveled to kick off the Longwood Spring Break Classic with a doubleheader against Youngstown State and the host Lancers on Friday. The Penguins shut out the Dolphins, 9-0, in game one before Longwood earned a 7-1 victory over Le Moyne in game two.
Game 1:
After the Dolphins' sophomore starter Isabella Kwashek (West Deptford, N.J. / West Deptford) took down Youngstown's top of the order 1-2-3 in the top of the first, junior right fielder Sydney Nesci (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) marked the first base runner of the game for either team as she worked a walk in the bottom half of the frame.
Center fielder Bree Kohler opened up the scoring in a three-run top of the second for the Penguins with a single down the right field line to drive in third baseman Tai Turner who previously reached on a fielding error to lead-off. Second baseman Ayla Ray then reached base on a fielder's choice to score catcher Kennedy Dean before Kohler came around to score on a double-steal attempt.
Both teams remained quiet over the next three innings until shortstop Emma Gilkerson singled through the left side to plate right fielder Bella Meyer who got on base with her own single through the left side earlier in the inning, giving Youngstown State a 4-0 lead.
Singles off the bat of senior DP Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park) and freshman pinch hitter Elizabeth Gleghorn (West Henrietta, N.Y. / Rush-Henrietta) put two runners on base for Le Moyne in the bottom half of the fifth, but two straight outs ended the threat.
The Penguins added another pair of runs in the following inning, as Kohler reached on a bunt before first baseman Selah Moyer drove her in with a two-run homer to right center.
They extended their lead for the final time in the top of the seventh after sophomore Danni Simpson (Marietta, Ga. / Sprayberry) was tabbed to come in to relieve Kwashek in the circle and a three-run double off the bat of pinch hitter Tatum Werley cemented the Penguins' scoring effort.
The Dolphins were unable to work a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, going down in order, as Youngstown State finished out their 9-0 victory.
Kwashek allowed seven runs (six earned) in 6.1 innings pitched on nine hits and two walks while striking out one. Simpson recorded the final two outs for the 'Phins, allowing two earned runs on a pair of hits and walks.
Game 2:
Longwood struck first in the second leg of Le Moyne's doubleheader, as freshman starter Tatum Nessman (Calgary, Alberta / National Sport School) allowed four consecutive walks to lead-off the game before Simpson was brought in and third baseman Sophia Knock reached on a fielder's choice to short which scored DP Brooke Masingale and pinch runner Jordyn Hern.
The Dolphins posed a threat in the top half of the second with singles off the bats of Nesci, sophomore third baseman Cianna Benamati (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake), and freshman left fielder Kayla Dunkerley (Purcellville, Va. / Loudon Valley) putting runners on before Benamati was thrown out at home for the third out of the inning.
A single through the left side off the bat of catcher Brooke Bennett scored right fielder Kate Westmiller from third and gave the Lancers a 4-0 lead after she walked to reach base in the bottom of the frame. They extended their lead to five runs in the following inning as first baseman Maggie Hiatt recorded an RBI single to center to plate second baseman Lauren Faulkner.
Le Moyne cracked the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning as sophomore center fielder Maddie Martin (Carlisle, Pa. / Cumberland Valley) got on base with a bunt to third base before advancing all the way around the bases on a throwing error by Longwood.
The Lancers added their final two runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth on a lead-off homer by Bennett and an RBI walk from shortstop Bailey Bucholz.
Despite a lead-off walk from Nesci in the top half of the seventh, the 'Phins were unable to bring her around and fell, 7-1, in game two.
Martin led the Dolphins offensively, going 2-3 at the plate with one stolen base and a run scored in the loss.
Nessman finished the game allowing six runs on five hits and nine walks while striking out one in 2.2 innings after re-entering. Simpson and freshman Adrianna Laraway (Colonie, N.Y. / Colonie) combined to allow one run on one hit and two walks while striking out two over the final 3.1 innings for Le Moyne.
What's Next:
Le Moyne will return to Bank of the James Park for another pair of games against Youngstown State and Lafayette at 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. tomorrow.
