Staten Island, NY – The Wagner College softball team split an NEC doubleheader against Le Moyne on Sunday afternoon, securing the series victory 2-1.
Game 1: Le Moyne 11, Wagner 3
The Dolphins struck first in the top of the first inning, taking an early 1-0 lead. The Seahawks quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning when freshman Taylor Reynolds flew out to left field, sacrificing for an RBI and bringing sophomore Brityn Buchanan home to tie the game at 1-1.
After the first inning, the score remained tied until the third, when Le Moyne erupted for ten runs over the next two innings, taking a commanding 11-1 lead by the fifth. Wagner managed to respond in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Lea Rachal singled to right field, driving in two runs, as freshman Kiera Armato advanced to second. Junior Payton Janicki and freshman
Savannah Czornomore both crossed the plate to bring the score to 11-3.
Despite their late game success, the Seahawks could not close the gap, and Le Moyne took game one of the doubleheader.
In the circle, junior Natalie Rodriguez started for the Seahawks, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing nine hits and eight runs, while walking four and striking out three. Junior Emma Crosby came in to relieve Rodriguez, pitching 0.2 innings, giving up one hit and three walks.
Game 2: Wagner 7, Le Moyne 1
Game two started slowly, but the Seahawks broke through in the bottom of the third. Junior Geanice Morales hit a sacrifice fly to center field, advancing Janicki to third while Armato
crossed the plate for a 1-0 lead. Moments later, Janicki scored on a wild pitch, extending Wagner's advantage to 2-0.
The Seahawks continued to build their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman Alayna Giampolo singled to right field, driving in sophomore Leilani Gonzales to make it 3-0. Buchanan then hit a two run homer, scoring herself and Giampolo, giving Wagner a 5-0 lead. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Rachal drew a walk, driving in Janicki for the sixth run. Freshman Lilly Banse also walked, bringing Morales home to give Wagner a 7-0 lead.
Le Moyne scored their lone run in the top of the seventh, but it wasn't enough, and the Seahawks closed out the game with a 7-1 victory.
Sophomore Karson Zavala was dominant in the circle, pitching all seven innings and allowing just five hits and one run while striking out seven. With her seven strikeouts, Zavala set a new Wagner record for the most strikeouts in a single season, now with 117, surpassing Scarlett Lloyd's mark set in 2022.
Next up, the Seahawks will host Stonehill on Saturday, April 12, for a doubleheader. Game one is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM at the Wagner Softball Field.
