SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Junior center fielder Ben Gaal (Manlius, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBI to lead Le Moyne to a 10-6 win over Binghamton in a non-conference baseball game at Dick Rockwell Field. The Dolphins (23-11) have won six consecutive games and 10 of their last 11, while Binghamton drops to 19-14-1.
Gaal highlighted Le Moyne's five-run first inning with a two-run double. He put the Dolphins on top 7-3 with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth. Gaal leads Le Moyne with eight round-trippers and 35 runs batted in this season.
Binghamton plated all six of its runs via the long ball. The Bearcats hit home runs to plate single runs in the first, second and third innings. Justin Smucker led off the game with a solo home run to right, Jeff Wertepny lifted a solo shot in the second and Michael Quinn connected for his first round-tripper of the season in the third. Junior second baseman Matt Simek pulled the Bearcats within a run on a three-run home run off high school teammate A.J. Lindsey (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) in the top of the seventh.
Le Moyne extended its 7-6 lead with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Senior Michael Affronti (Dix Hills, N.Y./Commack) singled and scored on a wild pitch and sophomore Jamie Rose (Hornell, N.Y./Hornell) laced a two-out double to score two more as the Dolphins opened up a 10-6 edge.
The Dolphins ran five pitchers out to the mound in the non-conference game. Senior southpaw Michael Falasca (Sicklerville, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) struck out two and allowed two home runs in two innings for his second win (2-4) Â of the season. Sophomore Eric Beaulac (Troy, N.Y./Troy) allowed one run in two innings, Brian Pullyblank (Caledonia, N.Y./Caledonia-Mumford) and Ryan Woods (Jacksonville, Fla./Englewood) pitched two scoreless innings each.
Simek went 3-for-5 to pace Binghamton's 11-hit attack. Justin Smucker also had two hits.
Le Moyne returns to action with a MAAC doubleheader on Saturday at noon against Canisius.
