Manchester, N.H. – Junior first baseman Paul Speicher (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) blasted a game-tying two-run homer in the sixth inning of the first game and recorded a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh inning of the second game as the #20/21-ranked Le Moyne College baseball team swept #26/14 Franklin Pierce on Sunday afternoon at Saint Anselm's Sullivan Park to win the Northeast-10 Conference Championship. The Dolphins defeated the Ravens, 6-5, in the first game to force the decisive championship game. In the winner-take-all game, Le Moyne rallied for a 4-2 victory and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship East Regional.
Le Moyne (40-13-1), which set a program record for wins in a season, now awaits word on who it will face in the NCAA Championship East Regional. The field and hosts for each of the eight regions will be announced on Sunday at 10:00 p.m. on ncaa.com.
The Ravens, which has advanced to the championship game six straight years, opened the first game's scoring with two runs on one hit in the second inning. After right fielder Nick LaCroix walked with one out, catcher Matt Walsh launched a home run over the fence in left center.
The Dolphins answered with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the frame. Junior shortstop Ryan Mahoney (Clay, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) led off with a double to right center and moved to third on an infield single by sophomore left fielder Pat Wiese (Fayetteville, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy). Franklin Pierce pitcher Ryan Leach was then called for a balk on a third-to-first pickoff attempt, which allowed Mahoney to score. Speicher followed with a double to left center to plate Wiese with the tying run.
Following two scoreless innings, the Ravens regained the lead with two runs on three hits and a Le Moyne error in the fifth. Designated hitter Isaac Wenrich opened the frame with a home run to center field. After an out, left fielder Calvin Graves singled to right center and moved to third on a single through the right side by second baseman Dan Hennigan. As shortstop Dan Kemp struck out, Graves raced home on a throwing error by the catcher on a pick-off attempt.
Le Moyne took the lead with four runs on three hits and two Franklin Pierce errors in the bottom of the sixth. After Wiese reached on an error by the first baseman to start the inning, Speicher blasted his first career home run over the wall in the center field on a 2-2 pitch. Redshirt junior right fielder Matthew Ciraco (White Plains, N.Y./Perkiomen School) followed with a bunt single to the third baseman and advanced to second when the third baseman threw the ball away. After junior second baseman Vincent Redmond (Ithaca, N.Y./Lansing/Garrett College) was hit by a pitch and junior right fielder/third baseman Zack Wiley (Toluca Woods, Calif./Crespi) drew a walk to load the bases with two outs, senior third baseman/pitcher Matt Marra (Brewerton, N.Y./Central Square) singled through the left side to drive in Ciraco and Redmond with the go-ahead runs.
Franklin Pierce scored once on two hits in the ninth inning, but was unable to plate the tying run. Third baseman Anthony Peguero drew a walk with one out and advanced to second on a walk by Graves. After a wild pitch allowed Peguero and Graves to move up a base, Hennigan singled to the left side of the infield to drive in Peguero. Following a strike out and a hit batsman that loaded the bases, junior closer Kevin Carroll (Jamesville, N.Y./Fabius-Pompey) got Northeast-10 Player of the Year Zach Mathieu to ground out to end the game.
First team all-conference senior pitcher Ed Kohout (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence/Genesee C.C.) struck out nine batters over seven innings to improve to 8-1 as a starter, while yielding four runs (three earned) on seven hits. Carroll registered his 10th save of the campaign by tossing the ninth inning. Carroll joins Ryan Woods '07 (11 in 2006, 14 in 2007) as the only Le Moyne pitchers to record double-digit saves in a season. Marra had three hits in the contest, while Speicher added a pair. Leach suffered the loss after giving up six runs (five earned) on eight hits over five and one-third innings.
After three and one-half scoreless innings to start the decisive second game, Mathieu led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a home run to center to give the Ravens the lead.
The Dolphins took the lead with three runs on three hits in the top of the seventh inning. Marra and Mahoney were each hit by pitches to open the frame. After a Franklin Pierce pitching change, Marra was retired at third as Wiese reached on a fielder's choice. Mahoney then moved to third and Wiese took second on a passed ball. Speicher followed with a single down the right field line to knock in Mahoney and Wiese and give the Dolphins a 2-1 advantage. Ciraco then singled and junior catcher Brian Stinson (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley) was hit by a pitch after another pitching change to load the bases. Following the third pitching change of the inning, Redmond singled through the right side to drive in Speicher, while Ciraco was thrown out by LaCroix trying to score.
Franklin Pierce pulled within 3-2 with a run on one hit in the bottom of the seventh inning. Just like the top of the inning, the first two batters (Graves and Hennigan) were hit by pitches. After Marra moved to the mound from third base, Graves advanced to third and Hennigan took second on a sacrifice bunt by Kemp. Center fielder James Roche then singled up the middle to plate Graves, but was thrown out trying to get to second base. After intentionally walking Mathieu to load the bases, Marra got LaCroix to fly out to left to end the inning.
Le Moyne tacked on a run on one hit in the ninth inning. Speicher was hit by a pitch with one out and moved to second as sophomore right fielder Nate Reynolds (Johnson City, N.Y./Maine-Endwell) drew a walk. Stinson then doubled to left field to drive in Speicher.
After hitting Graves to open the bottom of the ninth, Marra induced a ground out by Hennigan and got Kemp to hit into a double play to end the game.
Freshman southpaw Jon Dunn (Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) earned his first career victory out of the bullpen by tossing two scoreless innings in relief of classmate Ryan Davis (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury), who yielded just one run on four hits over four innings on the mound. Marra, named the Championship's Most Outstanding Player and to the All-Championship team, picked up his first career save after holding the Ravens scoreless over the final three innings. Redmond posted three hits en route to earning All-Championship team honors. Wiese joined Marra and Redmond on the All-Championship Team after registering seven hits, seven runs batted in, seven runs scored and six stolen bases in Le Moyne's six games in the Championship. Franklin Pierce starter Matt Horan took the loss after giving up two runs on four hits over six innings of work.
