Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College softball team hosted Siena University in a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon. The Dolphins came out on top, 4-2, in game one before splitting the doubleheader with a 10-1 loss in game two.
Game 1:
Le Moyne's freshman starter
Tatum Nessman (Calgary, Alberta / National Sport School) worked out of a one-out bases-loaded jam in the top of the first inning to keep game one scoreless early on.
The Dolphins struck for all four of their runs with two outs in the bottom of the third inning as junior second baseman
Avery Linn (Bethpage, N.Y./Plainedge) reached base on an error before freshman left fielder
Kayla Dunkerley (Purcellville, Va. / Loudon Valley) singled to right field to put runners on the corners.
One batter later, junior pinch-hitter
Molly Wolf (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) drove in Linn with a single to left field before senior first baseman
Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park) drove in Dunkerley and Wolf with a three-run homer, her seventh of the season.
The Saints scored both of their runs as they cut the deficit in half in the top of the fifth inning. After sophomore
Danni Simpson (Marietta, Ga. / Sprayberry) relieved Nessman in the circle, catcher Ella Milante singled to center field to score pinch-runners Mary Mikalsen and Mckenzie Faherty, who had reached base on a pair of walks earlier in the frame.
Simpson held Siena's offense to just one base runner in the final two innings as the 'Phins held on to take game one, 4-2.
Benderski led Le Moyne with two hits (a double and a home run) while driving in three runs in the win.
Nessman earned the win, allowing one run on two hits and seven walks while striking out one batter through 4.1 innings in the start. Simpson finished out the final 2.2 innings, allowing one run (zero earned) on two hits and two walks while striking out five.
Game 2:
Le Moyne took an early lead again in game two, going up 1-0 as junior third baseman
Gabriella Zarcone (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East) sent her second career homer, a solo shot, to left field in the bottom of the second inning.
Siena took the lead in the top of the fourth as three consecutive singles off Simpson, who started game two for the Dolphins, loaded the bases early for the Saints. A passed ball, an RBI single, and a sac fly drove in three runs for the visitors later in the frame.
The Saints added four more runs in the top of the fifth as first baseman Emma Petersen connected on an RBI double to left field before center fielder Chloe Cummings scored on a passed ball. After freshman
Adrianna Laraway (Colonie, N.Y. / Colonie) appeared in relief of Simpson in the circle, another pair of runs crossed the plate on a sac fly and bases-loaded walk.
They added their final three runs to take a 10-1 lead in the top of the sixth as pinch hitter Arianna DeCotis drove in two with a double to left center before another pinch hitter, Sophia Colucci, scored a runner on another sac fly.
The Dolphins' offense was unable to get a base runner on in the bottom of the inning and fell to split the doubleheader.
Zarcone and Benderski added a pair of hits each in game two for Le Moyne.
Simpson allowed six runs on seven hits and three walks while recording two strikeouts in 4.0 innings while Laraway tossed 1.0 innings in relief, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks. Nessman closed out the final inning, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk.
What's Next:
Le Moyne will host Colgate University in another non-conference doubleheader at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, Apr. 29.
