Albany, N.Y. – Sophomore right fielder Brett Botsford (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) had three hits and three runs scored and freshman pitcher Casey Cannon (Manasquan, N.J./Saint Rose/U. of Delaware) tossed four and two-thirds scoreless innings to lead the Le Moyne College baseball team to a 6-2 win over UAlbany on Tuesday afternoon at Varsity Field.
The Dolphins opened the scoring in the first inning on two hits and an error. Botsford led off with a single to center and advanced to second on a throwing error by the pitcher on a pickoff attempt. Two batters later, senior left fielder Chris Edmondson (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) doubled to left center to plate Botsford from third.
In the third inning, sophomore designated hitter Matthew Ciraco (White Plains, N.Y./Perkiomen School) singled to right field, moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt by the pitcher and advanced to third on a bunt single by Botsford. Ciraco then scored on a suicide squeeze by freshman second baseman Zack Wiley (Toluca Woods, Calif./Crespi).
The Great Danes evened the score in the bottom of the frame on two hits. Ralph Keppler walked with two outs and then stole second. Shortstop Kyle Crean then drilled a two-run homer down the right field line.
After four scoreless innings, the Dolphins regained the lead with two runs without recording a hit. Botsford was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a groundout moved Botsford to third and Edmondson walked, sophomore shortstop Matt Marra (Brewerton, N.Y./Central Square) reached on an error by the shortstop that allowed Botsford to score and Edmondson to get to third base. Redshirt freshman third baseman Ryan Mahoney (Clay, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) then drove in Edmondson as he reached on an error by the third baseman. In the ninth inning, Ciraco was hit by a pitch with two outs and scored on a homer to right field by Botsford.
Cannon struck out six batters without allowing a hit over four and two-thirds to earn his first collegiate victory. Senior southpaw Luke Nellis (Fonda, N.Y./Fonda-Fultonville) earned his third save of the season by tossing the final one and two-third innings. Nick Sessa took the loss after allowing two runs in one inning of work.
Le Moyne (21-21), which split a pair of games with the Great Danes last season, returns to action on Friday for the start of a three-game series at Louisiana at 7:00 p.m. EST.
