SYRACUSE, NY – Sophomore Jeff Tardiff (Framingham, MA / Framingham) picked up his sixth win of the season in game one of a doubleheader split with NYIT on Friday at Dick Rockwell Field. Tardiff pitched eight innings, allowed four hits and one run to pace the Dolphins in a 7-1 victory in game one. NYIT bounced back to take the seven-inning nightcap 6-3.
Le Moyne (23-23) got to NYIT starter Louie Bernardi early and built a 4-0 lead after two innings. In the first inning, freshman Brett Botsford (Baldwinsville, NY / Baldwinsville) led off for the Dolphins with a triple down the right field line. Matt Nandin (North Syracuse, NY / CNS) pushed across the first run of the day with a double to left center to score Botsford. Le Moyne added three more runs in the second inning behind RBI singles from Dan Sisto (Liverpool, NY / CBA) and Botsford.
Tardiff cruised through the first five innings as the right-hander held the Bears hitless until Effery Valdez connected for his ninth home run of the season in the sixth. Le Moyne got the run back in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Sisto to score Matt Marra (Brewerton, NY / Central Square). The Dolphins added two more insurance runs in the seventh en route to the victory.
In game two, the Bears (19-28-1) scored three early runs as they loaded the bases to open the game. Two runs scored on wild pitches and Valdez scored on a ground ball double play to give NYIT an early 3-0 lead. Le Moyne notched two runs in the second on a bases-loaded walk by Chris Murphy (Laurel Hollow, NY / St. Dominic's) and an infield single by Botsford.
NYIT added runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh inning to support Andrew Guarrasi's complete game effort. The junior lefthander allowed six hits, three runs (one earned) while striking out five to earn his sixth win of the season.
Le Moyne wraps up the series and regular season on Saturday with a single game beginning at noon. Prior to the game, Le Moyne will honor its five-member senior class, which will be participating in its final home game.