Lynchburg, Va. – Senior southpaw Cory Nelson (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) struck out six over eight innings to lead the Le Moyne College baseball team to a 9-2 win over New Orleans on Friday afternoon in the opening game of the Liberty University at Worthington Stadium.
The Dolphins opened the game with four runs on four hits in the first inning. Sophomore second baseman Vincent Redmond (Ithaca, N.Y./Lansing/Garrett College) singled to second base with one out and moved to third on a single up the middle by junior center fielder Brett Botsford (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker). Sophomore shortstop Ryan Mahoney (Clay, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) followed with a single to right center to drive in Redmond. Senior right fielder Don Schaaf (Medford, N.Y./Longwood HS) then doubled down the right field line to knock in Botsford. Mahoney then scored from third on a sacrifice fly to center by sophomore catcher Brian Stinson (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley). After a walk, Schaaf raced home from third on a wild pitch.
Le Moyne added an unearned run on a hit and a New Orleans error in the bottom of the second inning. Redmond singled up the middle with one out, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on the second walk of the inning. Stinson then reached on a fielding error by the third baseman, allowing Redmond to score.
New Orleans got the run back in the top of the third on a lead-off home run to right field by right fielder Andrew Garcia.
The Dolphins extended their lead to 6-1 with a run on one hit in the fifth inning. Junior shortstop Matt Marra (Brewerton, N.Y./Central Square) drew a walk with one out, stole second and came around to score on a double down the left field line by sophomore designated hitter Paul Speicher (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury).
Le Moyne added a run on two hits in the seventh inning. Sophomore first baseman Kody O'Connor (Mexico, N.Y./Mexico) and Marra opened the frame with consecutive singles. Following a sac bunt by Speicher and a walk to load the bases, Redmond lifted a sac fly to center to plate O'Connor.
New Orleans scored an unearned on two hits and a Le Moyne error in the top of the eighth inning. Left fielder Steffan Farrell opened the inning by reaching second on a dropped fly ball by the shortstop. After advancing to third with one out on a single by second baseman Zach Pohto, Farrell scored on sac fly to center by shortstop Beau Boudreaux.
The Dolphins closed out the scoring in the game with two runs in the bottom of the eighth. After Mahoney led off with a single to left center, Schaaf blasted a two-run homer to right field.
Nelson yielded just five hits over a season-best eight innings to go along with his six strikeouts. Schaaf led Le Moyne's 15-hit attack with three hits, while Redmond, Botsford, Mahoney, O'Connor and Speicher had two hits apiece. Zach Kelt took the loss for the Privateers after allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits over six innings.
Le Moyne (14-25) returns to action tonight against Liberty at 7:00 p.m.
