SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Freshman Anna Tassone (Gardner, Mass.) picked up her third straight win in the circle by only allowing five hits and not issuing a walk in leading the Assumption University softball team to a 3-2 victory over Le Moyne in the second game of a doubleheader against Le Moyne on Friday afternoon. The Dolphins took the opener in six innings, 8-0, before the Greyhounds regrouped to earn the split.

Game One: Le Moyne 8, Assumption 0 (6 Innings)

After the visitors stranded a runner in their half of the first inning, Le Moyne scored its first run in the bottom half of the opening frame and led from wire-to-wire. Boudreau led off with a bunt single, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and then came home on a single through the right side by Cassidy Barrett.

With Laura Bennett continuing to control the circle, Le Moyne pulled away for good by scoring four times in the bottom of the fourth by starting its offense once again with a bunt single. Dominique Russo hit an RBI single with runners on second and third, and the Dolphins added insurance tallies by capitalizing on a passed ball as well as an error.

Senior Mia Patriacca (Newton, Mass.) entered the circle in relief and got the Greyhounds out of the inning by inducing a groundout to sophomore Lauren Geremia (North Providence, R.I.) at second base.

Assumption continued to produce chances to get on the scoreboard, but in each instance, Bennett got herself out of trouble with help from the defense. The Greyhounds would end up leaving six runners on base, as Elaina Kassap ended the game early due to the eight-run rule by blasting a bases-clearing double to right center in the bottom of the sixth with two outs.

Bennett threw a five-hit shutout to earn the victory for Le Moyne and improve her record to 8-7 this spring. She fanned eight Greyhounds and only issued one free pass to work. Senior Erin Barry (Braintree, Mass.) suffered the loss after allowing 10 hits and five runs, including three earned, in 3.2 innings of work. She also struck out four and issued one walk while falling to 6-8.

Game Two: Assumption 3, Le Moyne 2

With a fresh start, Assumption had the first major opportunity to score in the nightcap. But after sophomore Abigail Larson (Marlborough, Mass.) launched the ball for a double to center field, placing two runners in scoring position with two outs, Dolphin hurler Julia Panarella was able to catch the next Greyhound she faced looking at strike three to end the threat.

The teams then traded runs on RBI doubles in the fourth inning. Sophomore Kali Scirocco (Upton, Mass.) gave the Greyhounds their first lead of the afternoon by hitting classmate Summer Sheerin (Bridgewater, Mass.) home before Kassap tied it by finding a hole in right center.

With runners on the second and third and two outs in the top of the fifth, freshman Makenzie Bruggeman (Trumbull, Conn.) appeared to chop what could have been a two-run single past the Dolphin third baseman. However, the umpire ruled the ball was foul. Panarella then induced a groundout to third to keep the game tied.

After Tassone finished her fifth clean inning of work, the Greyhounds once again placed two runners in scoring position to start the sixth. This time, they were able to take the lead with sophomore Alexis Charbonneau (Hudson, N.H.) sending a liner up the middle. Sophomore Samantha Hardwick (Albany, N.Y.) then doubled the Greyhound lead by grounding out to first with runners at the corners, sending home classmate Abigail Larson (Marlborough, Mass.).

Le Moyne (12-18, NE10 4-10) didn't go away quietly, as Frankie Larobardiere blasted a solo home run down the right field line with one out in the bottom of the seventh. However, Tassone induced a routine fly to junior Jordan Dwyer (Coventry, R.I.) in center before striking out Mckenzie Bergdoll to end the game.

Tassone picked up the win for Assumption and evened her record at 3-3 by striking out two, not issuing a walk, and only yielding five hits and two runs. Le Moyne's Panarella fell to 3-7 for giving up six hits and three runs, which were all earned, in 5.1 frames. She also punched out eight and walked two.

Assumption (9-20, NE10 6-6) will continue its NE10 schedule on the road against Saint Rose on Monday afternoon. The first game of the doubleheader is slated to start at 1:30 p.m.