Buffalo, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College softball team traveled to the University of Buffalo for a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. The Bulls came on top in both games, earning a 7-5 win in game one before closing the set with a 9-0 victory in game two.
Game 1:
After a 1-2-3 top of the first for the Dolphins, the Bulls plated a pair in their half of the inning as DP Emily Gorman walked to lead-off before being driven in on a triple to left center off the bat of right fielder Nicole Allen. Allen later came in to score on a sac fly to center field by third baseman Bri Delaney.
Buffalo extended their lead in the bottom of the third inning as Allen and Delaney reached on a pair of base hits before catcher Bella Smithson connected on a three-run homer to center off Le Moyne's freshman starter
Tatum Nessman (Calgary, Alberta/National Sport School).
Le Moyne cracked the scoreboard and cut their deficit to three runs in the top of the fifth as senior DP
Alexandra Chesney (Malverne, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) walked to lead-off the inning before junior shortstop
Shannon Gavigan (Havertown, Pa/Haverford) singled to advance Chesney's pinch runner, junior
Gabriella Zarcone (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East). Both runners came around to score on a pinch-hit RBI single from freshman
Elizabeth Gleghorn (West Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta).
The Dolphins came back within one run in the following frame as senior first baseman
Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park) led-off with a solo homerun to deep left field. Later in the inning, Chesney doubled to right center before coming around to score on a single up the middle off the bat of Gavigan.
Leading, 5-4, in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Bulls added a pair of runs off freshman
Adrianna Laraway (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie) to add some cushion as Gorman singled to left field to plate left fielder Tabitha von Kolen from second base before Delaney added a sac fly to drive in Gorman.
Facing a three-run deficit in the top of the seventh inning, Le Moyne's squad added one final run as freshman left fielder
Kayla Dunkerley (Purcellville, Va./Loudon Valley) walked before scoring on an RBI double by Benderski.
The Dolphins were unable to complete the comeback and dropped game one, 7-5.
Benderski and Gleghorn led Le Moyne's offense with two RBI each while the senior first baseman and Gavigan each registered a pair of hits, as well. Chesney went 1-1 at the plate with two walks and a run scored for the 'Phins.
Nessman allowed five runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three Buffalo hitters through 2.1 innings in the start. Laraway finished out the final 3.2 innings in the circle, allowing a pair of runs on four hits and three walks.
Game 2:
Dunkerley led off the game with a single up the middle for Le Moyne in the top of the first, which would prove to be the team's lone base hit of game two.
The Bulls added a pair of runs against sophomore starter
Isabella Kwashek (West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford) to take the lead in their half of the inning as Gorman walked and center fielder Reagan Terwilliger singled before both scoring on a fielder's choice.
They added their final seven runs in the following two innings on nine hits and one error from the Dolphins.
Le Moyne was unable to score a run despite working three walks in the game and fell, 9-0, in five innings to close out the doubleheader.
What's Next:
Le Moyne will travel to North Easton, Mass. for a three-game NEC series at Stonehill this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 18-19.
