Syracuse, NY – The Le Moyne College softball team (14-28, 5-9 NEC) competed against Syracuse University (23-20, 5-13 ACC) for an Upstate, New York mid-week doubleheader. The Orange prevailed winning both games over the Dolphins; 8-6, and 6-1.
“We are right there in every game” said head coach Tracey Roman. “We’re in it until the very last play, threatening until the very last out. There is so much fight in this group. This team is tight and they fight for each other every single day.
We are swinging the bat with great trust and conviction. We need to stay the course offensively and keep building on the foundation we’ve established as we head into a critical conference series this weekend. Laura and Arianna pitched well today and I’m pleased with how our staff is working together down the stretch. There has been so much improvement and growth throughout the season. It’s been really fun to watch and I can’t wait to see how the rest of the season plays out.”
First Game:
The Dolphins went without any hits or runs to start off the first inning. Syracuse started off similarly until Taylor Posner scored off a single to right center from Madison Knight (1-0).
No runs or hits were seen from both teams until the bottom of the fifth where Olivia Pess homered to right center for the Orange (2-0). Two batters later, Rebecca Clyde hit a homerun to left center giving Syracuse a three-run lead (3-0).
The Dolphins reacted with two runs in the top of the sixth. Junior second baseman Dominique Rinaldi (Sayville, NY / Sayville) started off by drawing a walk. Redshirt junior third baseman Frankie Larobardiere (North Syracuse, NY / Cicero-North Syracuse/ Onondaga CC) also drew a walk and Rinaldi moved to second. Sophomore outfielder Emilee Gallagher (New Windsor, NY / Newburgh Free Academy) then entered to pinch run at first for Larobardiere. Graduate first baseman Mckenzie Bergdoll (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro) followed reaching on a fielder’s choice to shortstop while Gallagher advanced to second, but Rinaldi would be out at second due to an interference. Sophomore designated player Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park) drew another walk loading the bases. Freshman second baseman Gabriella Zarcone (Smithtown,, NY / Smithtown East) then entered to pinch run for Benderski at first. Freshman left fielder Sydney Nesci (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) slammed a double to left field bringing home Bergdoll and Gallagher to add two runs for the Dolphins (2-3).
Syracuse led off the bottom of the sixth with a homer from Angel Jasso (4-2). Makenzie Foster then singled to shortstop as Gabby Lantier scored for the Orange (5-2). Pess followed by singling up the middle sending Laila Morales-Alve to third then would advance home off a fielding error (6-2). Foster then scored off an RBI flyout from Kelly Breen (7-2). To finish off the inning, Clyde singled to right bringing home Pess (8-2).
Le Moyne responded in the seventh with Rinaldi hitting a single to center field. Larobardiere drew another walk as Rinaldi advanced to second. Freshman third baseman Molly Wolf (Horseheads, NY / Horseheads) then entered to pinch run for Larobardiere at first. Bergdoll also drew a walk loading the bases for the Dolphins. Benderski then reached on a fielding error by right field while advancing to second and Bergdoll, Wolf, and Rinaldi would all score (6-8).
The Orange would take the first game 8-6 over the Dolphins.
Second Game:
Junior right fielder Alyssa Dybacz (Baldwinsville, NY / Charles W. Baker) led off with a single to right field, but would be left on base with three consecutive outs following. With two outs in the second, Nesci singled to center but would also be left on base.
In the bottom of the second, Syracuse added six runs to the board. Taylor Davison started with reaching off a fielder’s choice to shortstop and advanced to second while Pess crossed homeplate (1-0). Jasso then singled to left center bringing home Davison and Angie Ramos (3-0). Knight singled to right field as Jasso and Foster both added a run (5-0). Clyde then flew out to right field and Posner would bring in the last run for the Orange (6-0).
Le Moyne added their one and only run in the fifth starting with freshman second baseman Shannon Gavigan (Havertown, Pa. / Haverford) drawing a walk. Dybacz then singled to left and Gavigan advanced to second. Rinaldi was hit by a pitch loading the bases as Loarobardiere was on deck. Larobardiere then drew another walk as Gavigan would add the run to the board.
The Orange took the second game 6-1.
The Dolphin’s next game will be tomorrow Thursday, April 25th at Siena College for a doubleheader starting at 2pm and 4pm at the Siena Softball Field – Loudonville, NY.
