Manchester, N.H. – Junior right fielder Zack Wiley (Toluca Woods, Calif./Crespi) went 3-for-5 and drove in three runs to lead the #16 nationally-ranked Le Moyne College baseball team to a 7-4 win over Saint Anselm on Saturday afternoon in the eighth game of the NCAA East Regional at Southern New Hampshire's Penmen Field.
The Dolphins improve to 42-14-1 on the season and will play Franklin Pierce in an elimination game on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. The winner will face Southern New Hampshire at 4:00 p.m. for the regional championship and a berth in the Division II Championships.
The Hawks got on the scoreboard first with two runs on three hits in the top of the first inning. Second baseman Richie Manzi singled up the middle with one out and moved to second on a single through the left side by pitcher/designated hitter Robert Kelly. Right fielder Daniel DeCoste then singled to center to plate Manzi. Following a walk by left fielder Dan Lagasse to load the bases, first baseman Mike Hayden lifted a sacrifice fly to center to knock in Kelly.
Saint Anselm added a run on two hits and a Le Moyne error in the second inning. Center fielder Andrew Chandler singled to center with one away and advanced to second on a throwing error by the pitcher on a pickoff attempt. After a single to left by shortstop Tito Lluberes, Manzi flied out to right to drive in Chandler.
Le Moyne pulled within 3-1 in the bottom of the third with a run on one hit. Redshirt junior designated hitter Matthew Ciraco (White Plains, N.Y./Perkiomen School) was hit by a pitch to open the frame and advanced to third on a single to left by senior catcher Kyle Kalaka (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham). After an out and a walk by senior center fielder Brett Botsford (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker), Wiley drove in Ciraco with a groundout.
The Hawks got the run right back in the top of the fourth on three hits. Lluberes singled through the left side with two outs and moved to third on a single to right center by Manzi. Kelly then singled up the middle to plate Lluberes.
The Dolphins took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with four runs on three hits and a Saint Anselm error. Junior shortstop Ryan Mahoney (Clay, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) drew a walk on five pitches to open the inning. Following a pair of outs and a walk by Ciraco on five pitches, Kalaka reached on a fielding error by the left fielder, which allowed Mahoney to score. Junior second baseman Vincent Redmond (Ithaca, N.Y./Lansing) followed with a single up the middle to drive in Ciraco. After a single to the shortstop by Botsford to load the bases, Wiley singled to the shortstop to knock in Kalaka with the tying run. Senior third baseman Matt Marra (Brewerton, N.Y./Central Square) then drew a walk on five pitches to force in Redmond with the go-ahead run.
Le Moyne added a run in the sixth on one hit. Redmond was hit by the first pitch of the inning and then took second on a sacrifice bunt by Botsford. Wiley followed with a double down the left field line to plate Redmond.
The Dolphins tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning on a pair of hits. After a pair of outs to start the frame, Wiley singled to right center and then stole second. Marra followed with a single to right field to knock in Wiley.
Senior righty Erik Lambe (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) tossed four scoreless innings out of the bullpen to earn his fourth win of the year, while striking out three and only allowing three hits. Junior closer Kevin Carroll (Jamesville, N.Y./Fabius-Pompey) retired all three batters he faced in the ninth inning, including two via strikeouts, to earn his 11th save of the season, tied with Ryan Woods '07 for the second-most on the program's single-season chart. Kelly took the loss after allowing five runs (one earned) on five hits over three and one-third innings on the mound.
