Jacobs tosses four-hitter in first game

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (April 18, 2009) – Junior left fielder Bailey Phillips (Rochester, N.Y./Greece-Arcadia) hit 2-for-4 with a triple, drove in two runs and scored three times on Saturday afternoon to lead Le Moyne to an 8-1 victory over the Franklin Pierce University softball team in the second game of a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader at Niland Athletic Complex. Le Moyne also won the first game of the day, 1-0, behind a two-hit shutout from senior pitcher Jennifer Farrelly (Latham, N.Y./Shaker).

Le Moyne scored the only run of the first game in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, freshman designated hitter Kelcie Cashel (Lacona, N.Y./Sandy Creek) worked a walk, stole second base and scored on a single back up the middle by freshman shortstop Barbara Shea (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa).

Meanwhile, both pitchers were authoring gems. Senior Courtney Jacobs (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) tossed a four-hitter but was saddled with the loss (3-12) for Franklin Pierce. She allowed one run, walked one, hit a batter and struck out one.

Farrelly fired a two-hit shutout to pick up the win (12-4) in the circle for Le Moyne. She recorded eight strikeouts against the 22 batters she faced.

In the second game, Franklin pierce opened the scoring with an unearned run in the top of the third inning. With two outs, sophomore second baseman Emily Griffin (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, stole second and scored on an RBI single to left field by freshman center fielder Jayme Bilafer (Concord, Mass./Concord-Carlisle).

Le Moyne answered and took a 3-1 lead it would never relinquish with three runs in the bottom half of the third. Sophomore catcher Kimberlee Baker (Murrieta, Calif./Murrieta Valley) led off with a double down the right-field line and moved to third on a single to right field by Phillips. Junior center fielder Danielle VanGorder (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) followed with a single back through the middle to drive home Baker and move Phillips to second. After a double steal put runners on second and third, junior second baseman Kelly Schweikert (Rochester, N.Y./Spencerport) knocked an RBI double to center field to score Phillips and move VanGorder to third. Schweikert moved to third as VanGorder was erased at the plate on a fielder’s choice and senior third baseman Caitlin O’Neill (Pittsford, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) followed with an RBI groundout to score Schweikert.

Le Moyne extended the lead to 6-1 with three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Shea led off with an infield single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and went to third on a single to left by Baker, who then stole second base. Both runners would score when Phillips followed with a two-run triple to right field. Phillips would in turn score on an RBI double to left-center field by VanGorder.

The Dolphins capped the scoring and created the 8-1 final with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sophomore right fielder Amanda Daum (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) led off with an infield single and moved around to third on the second double of the game by Baker. Baker moved to third as Phillips bounced into a fielder’s choice that saw Phillips put out at the plate. VanGorder followed with an RBI single through the right side of the infield to score Baker and push Phillips around to third. Phillips would later score on a single through the left side by freshman pinch hitter Morgan Edmondson (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City).

Freshman pitcher Jessica Wiley (Cape Vincent, N.Y./Thousand Islands) started in the circle and took the loss (2-6) in the second game for Franklin Pierce. Over 3.1 innings, she gave up six runs on nine hits, did not issue a walk and struck out one.

Sophomore Jenna Vanacore (Hicksville, N.Y./Holy Trinity) threw the first six innings to pick up the win (13-2) for Le Moyne. She allowed one unearned run on two hits, walked three, threw a wild pitch and struck out 10.

The Ravens (5-25, 1-15 Northeast-10) return to the field on Sunday, April 19, when they travel to Saint Rose for a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Esposito Field in Albany, N.Y. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on April 21 against Southern Connecticut State at 3 p.m. Le Moyne (27-9, 15-3 Northeast-10) returns to action on April 19 at home against Massachusetts Lowell.