SYRACUSE, NY – A diving catch by freshman right fielder Matt Ciraco (White Plains, NY / Perkiomen School) in game one and a clutch two-out, two-run base hit by Don Schaaf (Middle Island, NY / Longwood) in game two were key in the Dolphins sweeping Longwood University in a double header on Saturday at Dick Rockwell Field. By taking game one 3-2 and game two 6-5, Le Moyne improves to 14-17 on the season while Longwood drops to 21-15.
In game one, southpaw Cory Nelson (Manlius, NY / Fayetteville-Manlius) turned in a strong performance on the mound going six innings, yielding five hits and striking out seven to lead the Dolphins to a 3-2 victory.
Phil Cerreto got Longwood on the board in the first inning with a solo home run to right field. Centerfielder Sean Paino (Wappinger Falls, NY / Roy C. Ketcham) added the first of his two RBI's on a single to right to plate Rich Brown (Vestal, NY / Vestal) tying the game at 1-1. Longwood reclaimed the lead in the third inning as Cerreto singled home a run to give the Lancers a 2-1 advantage.
In the third inning, Chris Edmondson (Johnson City, NY / Johnson City) tied the score at 2-2 with a two-out double to right to push across freshman Brett Botsford (Baldwinsville, NY / C.W. Baker). Le Moyne claimed the lead for good in the bottom half of the fourth with a sacrifice fly from Paino.
Junior Luke Nellis (Fonda, NY / Fonda-Fultonville) earned the save out of the bullpen pitching three scoreless innings of relief of Nelson. The ninth inning featured a highlight reel catch by Ciraco as the freshman made a two-out diving catch in the gap with the bases loaded to preserve the victory.
In game two, Longwood once again recorded a run in the top half of the first inning as Casey Havers singed to right scored Scott Kimble. Le Moyne got on the board in the bottom of the second as Paino recorded his second home run of the season on a solo blast to left field.
Longwood regained the lead two runs in the third inning highlighted by a two-out double by Jon Quigley. The 'Phins responded in their half of the inning with three runs of their own to take the lead 4-3. RBI's single by Edmondson and Matt Marra (Brewerton, NY / Central Square) couple with Matt Nandin (North Syracuse, NY / CNS) scoring from third on a wild pitch gave the Dolphins a one run advantage through three.
In the top half of the sixth, the Lancers' Brant Jones greeted reliever Luke Nellis with a two-out, two-run double to left center giving Longwood a 5-4 lead. Le Moyne once again responded in their half of the inning as they loaded the bases with a singles from Marra and Paino and a walk from Dan Sisto (Liverpool, NY / CBA). With two out, sophomore Don Schaaf came through in the clutch for the second consecutive day with a two-run single to left field to give Le Moyne a 6-5 lead.
Senior Brandon Otto (Cicero, NY / CNS) closed the door in the seventh inning retiring the Lancers to record his first save of the year and secure the victory.
Le Moyne wraps up their series with Longwood on Sunday with a single game beginning at Noon. Freshman right-hander Derek Zielinski (Schenectady, NY / Colonie) will get the ball for the Dolphins.
