Buffalo, N.Y. – Sophomore shortstop Matt Marra (Brewerton, N.Y./Central Square) went 3-for-5 with a run scored and a run batted in to lead the Le Moyne College baseball team to a 7-6 win over Canisius on Tuesday afternoon at the Demske Sports Complex.

The Dolphins scored in five of the first six innings en route to jumping out to a 6-2 lead. Le Moyne scored once on two hits in the first inning. Senior left fielder Chris Edmondson (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) doubled down the left field line with two outs and came around to score on a single to center by Marra.

The Griffs evened the score with a run on just one hit in the bottom of the frame. Perry Silverman led off the inning by drawing a walk and moved to third on a double by Sean Jamieson. Ian Choy then grounded out to drive in Silverman.

Le Moyne, which has won eight of its last 10 games, regained the lead with two runs on two hits in the second inning. After sophomore right fielder Brett Botsford (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) drew a one-out walk, freshman first baseman Kody O'Connor (Mexico, N.Y./Mexico) doubled down the left field line to knock in Botsford. Two batters later, freshman second baseman Zack Wiley (Toluca Woods, Calif./Crespi) singled to left field to score O'Connor from third.

Canisius got one run back in its half of the second on one hit. Brian Burton led off with a single to right field, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a ground out. Brad Medici then recorded a sacrifice fly to center to plate Burton.

After a scoreless third inning, the Dolphins scored single runs in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth frames. Sophomore third baseman Vincent Redmond (Ithaca, N.Y./Lansing/Garrett College) singled with one out in the fourth, stole second and scored on a single up the middle by sophomore designated hitter Matthew Ciraco (White Plains, N.Y./Perkiomen School). In the fifth, the Dolphins loaded the bases after Botsford walked, Redmond reached on a fielder's choice and Wiley walked. Ciraco was then hit by a pitch to force in Botsford. Le Moyne extended its lead to 6-2 with a run on two hits in the sixth inning. Marra opened the frame with a double down the left field line and scored on a double down the left field line by senior center fielder Sean Paino (Wappinger Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham).

The Griffs closed to within 6-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning on a lead-off home run to right field by Steve McQuail.

The Dolphins regained their four-run lead with a run on four hits in the eighth inning. Paino and freshman catcher Brian Stinson (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley) opened the inning with singles. Botsford followed with a single up the middle to drive in Paino with Le Moyne's final run of the game.

Canisius pulled within 7-6 with three runs on two hits in the eighth inning, but were unable to plate the tying run. McQuail walked, Shayne Wilson singled and Burton walked to load the bases and knock Le Moyne reliever Tom McDermott (Amsterdam, N.Y./Amsterdam) out of the game. Drew Pettit greeted Michael Kitts (East Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) with a ground-rule double to right center to drive in McQuail and Wilson. After a pop out and a strike out around a hit batsman that loaded the bases, pinch-hitter Paul Panik drew a walk to force in Burton. Senior southpaw Luke Nellis (Fonda, N.Y./Fonda-Fultonville) got the Dolphins out of the jam and preserved the lead by striking out Choy. Nellis closed out the game in the ninth by getting a strike out and a double play around a walk to Wilson.

Sophomore Erik Lambe (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) improved to 3-1 on the season, including 2-0 as a starter, by scattering four hits over five innings, while allowing two runs and striking out six batters. Nellis struck out two of the four batters he faced in picking up his second save of the season and the 11th of his career, the third-best total in the program's history. Chris Cox took the loss for Canisius after allowing four runs on six hits in four innings of work.

Le Moyne (13-12), which was playing its last of 25 straight road games to start the season, hosts Cornell on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. in its home opener.

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Le Moyne 7, Canisius 6
Le Moyne (13-12)        120      111      010      -           7          15        0
Canisius (14-9)           110      001      030      -           6          9          2

Le Moyne (13-12): Erik Lambe (W, 3-1), Tom McDermott (6), Michael Kitts (8), Luke Nellis (8, S, 2) and Brian Stinson.

Canisius (14-9): Chris Cox (L, 1-1), Ryan Fennell (5), Josh Marshall (7) and Brad Medici, Paul Panik (9).