SYRACUSE, N.Y. American International College sophomore Alexa DiLeo (Cheshire, Conn.) homered in the game-winning run in the top of the seventh of softball's 2-1 victory in game two of a doubleheader at Le Moyne College Tuesday afternoon.
The Yellow Jackets split for the day, falling in the opener 6-2, before taking game two. AIC moves to 9-7 overall and 1-2 in NE-10 Southwest Division play.
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the sixth with just three hits, the Yellow Jackets found some offense. AIC senior outfielder Jenna Costa (Turners Falls, Mass.) opened the inning with a no-out walk. Freshman Ashley Hughes (Rancho Palo Verdes, Calif.) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Costa into scoring position. Sophomore catcher Jamie Mainez (Redlands, Calif.) came to the plate and singled to center, scoring Costa on an error by the catcher to knot the score at one apiece.
Jacket junior Jillian Bedard (Meriden, Conn.) sat down all three Dolphins batters in the home half of the inning to preserve the tie. DiLeo was up first for AIC and sent a shot over the left center wall, the go-ahead run and eventual game-winner.
Bedard got a ground out, fly out and strike out to end the game and pick up her first win of the season. The third-year starter allowed one earned off seven hits and struck out two. She was in control all game, allowing no walks.
The Yellow Jackets fell behind early 3-0 in the opening two innings of game one. AIC senior Jorrdin Miller (Garfield, N.J.) singled to center to open the scoring in the top of the third, plating Costa. Mainez stepped into the box and singled to right to send Hughes home and cut the deficit to one run, 3-2.
Le Moyne wasted no time getting it back as Tess Andrews homered in three runs in the home half of the third to take a 6-2 lead and ended the offense output for the game.
Camargo went 2.2 innings, allowing six earned off eight hits. She struck out three and walked three. Freshman Sarah Beliveau (Bristol, Conn.) pitched the final 3.1, allowing one hit and striking out four.
Mainez finished the day 3-6 from the plate with an RBI. Costa was 2-4 with a run scored in the opener.
The Yellow Jackets return home for a single game against NE-10 Southwest Division foe New Haven Friday, Mar. 25 at Groff Field. First pitch with the Chargers is set for 3 p.m.