Syracuse, N.Y. – Sophomore first baseman Pat Wright (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) smacked a go-ahead home run to lead the Le Moyne College baseball team to a 4-3 win over the University of New Haven on Sunday afternoon in the second game of a Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division doubleheader at Dick Rockwell Field. The Chargers won the first game of the day, 2-0.
New Haven got on the scoreboard first in the nightcap with two runs on one hit and a Le Moyne error in the second inning. Pitcher/designated hitter/third baseman Buckley singled to left field to open the inning and then moved around to third as first baseman Zach Collett was hit by a pitch and left fielder Kyle Cullen drew a walk to load the bases. After a fly out to shallow left field, third baseman Nick Russo reached on a fielder's choice to drive in Buckley, while Collett was able to score as the first baseman dropped the ball trying to complete a double play.
After being held scoreless for the first 14 innings of the day, the Dolphins scored four times on four hits and a New Haven error in the bottom of the sixth inning. Junior right fielder Jeremy Mathers (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger/Onondaga C.C.) started the rally with a one-out single through the right side. After sophomore shortstop/second baseman Brett Charbonneau (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) reached on a fielding error by the third baseman, Wright blasted his team-best fifth home run of the year down the left field line to give the Dolphins a 3-2 lead. Sophomore catcher/designated hitter Trey West (Fairport, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) followed with a single to left field and then stole second base. After a fly out, freshman center fielder Donato DiNorcia (Naples, Fla./Seacrest Country Day) lined a single up the middle to knock in West and force a New Haven pitching change.
The Chargers got one of the runs back in the seventh to get within 4-3. Cullen led off with a double down the left field line and then took third on a groundout. After a pop out, shortstop Tom Walraven singled to the hole at shortstop to drive in Cullen.
Freshman righty Damian Powers (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) improved to 4-1 on the season after striking out a season-high seven batters in his fourth complete game of the year, which is tied for second in the Northeast-10. West recorded two of Le Moyne's seven hits in the contest. Buckley, who started at third base in each of the first two games of the series, took the loss, his first of the year, after yielding four runs (two earned) on six hits over five and two-thirds innings pitched.
In the opening game of the day, the Chargers scored the only run they would need on two hits in the second inning. Designated hitter/right fielder Chris DeMorais led off with a double off the fence in right field and then took third on a fly out to right. Collett then singled through the left side to knock in DeMorais.
Following five scoreless innings, New Haven added an insurance run on two hits in the top of the eighth inning. Walraven led off with a single to the shortstop, took second on a sacrifice bunt and then moved to third on a single through the right side by center fielder Brendan O'Reilly. DeMorais then lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Walraven.
Junior lefty Ryan Davis (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) slipped to 1-3 in conference action after yielding two runs on 10 hits over eight innings pitched, while striking out four. Mathers accounted for two of Le Moyne's five hits in the game as the Dolphins advanced just four players into scoring position. Joey Royer earned his third win of the year after striking out seven over nine scoreless innings, while scattering five hits and three walks.
Le Moyne (15-21, 9-8 NE-10, 6-7 SW), which had scored just one run over its previous 35 innings (a span covering five games) prior to the four-run sixth inning of game two, continues its homestand on Tuesday with a doubleheader against The College of Saint Rose. First pitch from Rockwell Field is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The two games of the doubleheader are the 21st and 22nd contests in the year-long "Upstate Challenge" between the two institutions. With a 7-6 lead through 13 of the 14 sports, Le Moyne has already clinched retaining the trophy, while Tuesday's contests will determine the final tally. Saint Rose holds a 1-0 lead for the baseball point after defeating the Dolphins, 6-1, on April 3 in Albany.
