Syracuse, N.Y. – Senior right-hander Ed Kohout (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence/Genesee C.C.) struck out five batters and allowed just two hits to lead the 11th-ranked Le Moyne College baseball team to a split of a Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division doubleheader with Pace University on Sunday afternoon at Dick Rockwell Field. The Setters took the opener, 3-1, while the Dolphins won the nightcap, 6-1.
Pace took the lead in the opening game with a run on one hit in the first inning. Center fielder Patrick Chaputian singled through the right side on a 2-2 pitch to begin the frame. After moving to second on a sacrifice bunt, Chaputian advanced to third on a wild pitch and then raced home on another wild pitch.
The Dolphins evened the score at a run apiece in the fourth inning on one hit and a Pace error. Senior center fielder Brett Botsford (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) led off with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a sac bunt. After the Pace pitcher threw the ball into center field on a pick-off attempt, the center fielder tried to throw out Botsford making his way back to second, but threw the ball out of play, which allowed Botsford to score.
After four scoreless innings, the Setters scored twice on one hit and one Le Moyne error to regain the lead. Chaputian doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning. Right fielder Chris Roemer then reached on a fielder's choice as the first baseman tried to throw out Chaputian at third base, but the throw was wide of the third baseman, which allowed Chaputian to score and Roemer to get to second base. After Roemer advanced to third on a fly out, he raced home on a wild pitch.
Senior Erik Lambe (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) suffered the loss after giving up two unearned runs in one inning on the mound. Senior southpaw Mark Kuzma (Waverly, N.Y./Waverly) struck out 11 batters over the first eight innings, while allowing just one hit. Michael Tamburino earned the win for the Setters after striking out eight batters over eight and two-thirds innings pitched, while Edward Byrne struck out the only batter he faced to earn his fifth save.
In the nightcap, the Dolphins struck first as junior right fielder Zack Wiley (Toluca Woods, Calif./Crespi) blasted a solo home run over the fence in left field on a full-count pitch.
The Dolphins added a run on two hits in the third inning. Senior catcher Kyle Kalaka (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) led off with a single down the left field line and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Botsford followed with a doubled down the left field line to drive in Kalaka.
Le Moyne scored twice on two hits and a Pace error in the fourth inning. After junior shortstop Ryan Mahoney (Clay, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) reached on a throwing error by the third baseman and moved to second on a ground out, he scored on a single up the middle by redshirt junior designated hitter Matthew Ciraco (White Plains, N.Y./Perkiomen School). Junior first baseman Paul Speicher (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) singled to right center to knock in Ciraco.
The Dolphins extended their lead to 5-0 in the sixth inning on one hit. Mahoney led off with a single through the left side and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Ciraco was hit by a pitch, Mahoney scored as Ciraco drew a throw on a stolen base attempt.
The Setters got on the scoreboard in the seventh inning with an unearned run. Designated hitter James Pjura reached on a fielding error with one out and moved to second as catcher Joe Solomeno was hit by a pitch. After first baseman Joe Lombardi singled through the right side to load the bases, third baseman Brandon Martineson reached on a fielder's choice to drive in Pjura.
Le Moyne completed its scoring in the eighth inning with a run on two hits. Sophomore left fielder Nate Reynolds (Johnson City, N.Y./Maine-Endwell) singled to right field with two outs and moved to second on a walk by Ciraco. Speicher then singled down the right field line to knock in Reynolds.
Kohout improved to 6-1 as a starter after yielding just an unearned run on only two hits in his team-best fourth complete game of the year. Botsford, Wiley and Speicher each recorded two of Le Moyne's 10 hits. Brian Sundberg suffered the loss after giving up five runs (three earned) on eight hits over seven innings pitched.
Le Moyne (31-12-1, 16-8-1 NE-10, 11-6 SW), which dropped a Southwest Division series for the first time in five series this year, closes out its home slate on Tuesday against American International at 3:30 p.m.
