Manchester, N.H. – John Healy struck out nine batters in the opening game and reigning Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year Robert Kelly singled home the game-winning run in the nightcap as Saint Anselm swept the #14/18 Le Moyne College baseball team in a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader on Monday afternoon at Sullivan Park. The Hawks rallied for a 4-3 win in the opener and rallied for a 6-5 victory in the nightcap.
The Dolphins got on the scoreboard first in the opener with three runs on four hits in the second inning. Junior shortstop Ryan Mahoney (Clay, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) and sophomore left fielder Pat Wiese (Fayetteville, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) lead off the frame with consecutive singles. After Mahoney was retired at third as junior first baseman Paul Speicher (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) reached on a fielder's choice, sophomore designated hitter Nate Reynolds (Johnson City, N.Y./Maine-Endwell) walked to load the bases. Junior second baseman Vincent Redmond (Ithaca, N.Y./Lansing/Garrett College) then singled down the right field line to drive in Wiese and Speicher. Senior center fielder Brett Botsford (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) followed with a double down the left field line to plate Reynolds. With the double, Botsford became the program's all-time hits leader with 235 career hits, surpassing the total of 234 recorded by Jeff Justice '04 between 2001 and 2004.
The Hawks started their comeback with a run on one hit and a Le Moyne error in the bottom of the inning. After third baseman Jeffrey Criscuolo was hit by a pitch with two outs, catcher Nate Gonya singled through the right side and advanced to third on an error by the right fielder, which allowed Criscuolo to score.
Saint Anselm tied the score at three apiece in the bottom of the third with two runs on three hits. Center fielder Andrew Chandler led off with a single to left center and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After second baseman Richie Manzi singled up the middle to advance Chandler to third, Kelly lifted a sacrifice fly to center to knock in Chandler. Designated hitter Mike Hayden then singled to left center to drive in Manzi from second base.
The Hawks scored the game-winning run in the sixth inning on one hit. Right fielder Dan Lagasse tripled to right center with one out and raced home on a passed ball.
Senior right-hander Ed Kohout (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence/Genesee C.C.) suffered the loss on the mound for the Dolphins after giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits over eight innings of work, while striking out eight. Healy picked up his fifth win of the year for the Hawks after striking out nine in a complete-game performance, while yielding three runs on six hits.
In the nightcap, the Hawks opened the scoring with a run in the first inning without recording a hit. Shortstop Tito Lluberes, Manzi and Kelly drew consecutive walks to open the frame. Following an out, Lluberes came home on a wild pitch.
Le Moyne answered in the top of the second with two runs on one hit and a Saint Anselm error to take the lead. Junior catcher Brian Stinson (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley) was hit by a pitch with one out and moved to second on a wild pitch. After Reynolds drew a walk, Speicher singled to left center to knock in Stinson. Freshman designated hitter Jeff DiLuglio (Penfield, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) then reached on an error by the shortstop, which allowed Reynolds to score.
The Dolphins added a pair of runs on two hits in the third inning. After Mahoney singled to right field with two outs, Stinson blasted his fifth home run of the year over the fence in left center.
The Hawks pulled within a run in the bottom of the sixth inning with two runs on a pair of hits. Hayden provided the first run with a homer to center field. After Criscuolo walked with one out, Gonya singled up the middle to knock in Criscuolo.
Saint Anselm took the lead with two runs on two hits and a Le Moyne error in the bottom of the seventh inning. Kelly doubled to right center with one out and moved to third on a single to center by Hayden. Lagasse then reached on a fielding error by the first baseman that allowed Kelly to score the tying run and move Hayden to third. Following a Le Moyne pitching change, Criscuolo recorded a sacrifice fly to center to plate Hayden.
Le Moyne answered in the top of the eighth with a run on one hit and a Saint Anselm error to tie the score at five. With two outs, Botsford reached second on an error by the shortstop. Junior right fielder Zack Wiley (Toluca Woods, Calif./Crespi) followed with a single to right center to knock in Botsford.
The Hawks plated the winning run on one hit and a Le Moyne error in the bottom of the eighth. After the first two outs of the inning were recorded, Lluberes struck out swinging, but reached first on an error by the first baseman. Following a walk by Manzi, Kelly singled through the left side to drive in Lluberes.
Junior righty Kevin Carroll (Jamesville, N.Y./Fabius-Pompey) suffered the loss after giving up an unearned run in one inning of work. Wiley and Mahoney each posted two hits in the contest. David Kent picked up the win out of the bullpen after striking out two batters in the eighth inning. James Farrington earned his third save by striking out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning.
Le Moyne (23-8-1, 8-4-1 NE-10, 3-2 SW), which was swept in a doubleheader for the first time this season, returns home to face The College of Saint Rose on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
