Gaffney, S.C. – Sophomore center fielder Donato DiNorcia (Naples, Fla./Seacrest Country Day) had five hits to lead the Le Moyne College baseball team to a split of a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Founders FCU Stadium. The Saints rallied for an 8-7 win in the opener, while the Dolphins held on for an 11-10 victory in the nightcap.

Limestone opened the scoring in the first game with a run on one hit. Center fielder Chris Scura led off with a single through the left side, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then took third on a wild pitch. After a walk, designated hitter Dan Smith reached on a fielder's choice to drive in Scura.

The Dolphins took the lead in the third inning with three runs on four hits. Senior third baseman Max Nagelsmith (Duanesburg, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy-Albany) led off with a single to right center and then moved to second on a bunt single by sophomore catcher Matt Buroni (Marlborough, Mass./Marlborough). After a pair of ground outs and a walk by junior designated hitter/catcher Trey West (Fairport, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) to load the bases, junior first baseman Pat Wright (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) drew a walk to force in Nagelsmith. Redshirt sophomore right fielder/designated hitter Mark Martin (Sauquoit, N.Y./Sauquoit Valley/Bryant) then singled down the left field line to plate Buroni and West.

Le Moyne added a run on two hits in the fourth inning. Buroni doubled down the left field line with one out and moved to second on a single through the left side by DiNorcia. Buroni then raced home on a passed ball.

The Saints got one run back on one hit in the fourth inning. Second baseman/third baseman Austin Marcellus led off with a single up middle, took second on a walk by catcher Alex Oleszkowicz and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Scura then grounded out to knock in Marcellus.

Limestone cut its deficit to one in the bottom of the seventh with one run on two hits. Scura drew a walk with one out and then moved to second on a single up the middle by left fielder Michael Gonzalez. First baseman Kyle Booth followed with a single down the right field line to drive in Scura.

The Saints took the lead in the bottom of the eighth with four runs on just two hits. Pinch-hitter Michael Newcomb walked to open the frame and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After pinch-hitter Brett Duckett walked and the Dolphins changed pitchers, shortstop Khari Anderson drew a walk to load the bases. Scura followed with a double to center to plate Newcomb and pinch-runner Brian Wirth. Anderson then scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Gonzalez. Booth completed the scoring in the frame by driving in Scura with a double to left center.

The Dolphins stayed alive in the contest by scoring three times in the top of the ninth on one hit and one Limestone error. Junior second baseman Brett Charbonneau (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) and West opened the inning by drawing consecutive walk to force a pitching change. After an out, Martin singled up the middle to knock in Charbonneau and move Wright to third. Junior shortstop Dylan Swetman (Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) then lifted a sacrifice fly to the second baseman to knock in Wright, while Martin was able to score on a throwing error by the second baseman.

Limestone claimed the win in the top of the ninth on a leadoff solo home run to left field by second baseman Logan Conley, who entered the game defensively in the top of the ninth.

Senior lefty Bobby Renaud (Clay, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse/Onondaga C.C.) took the loss after yielding one run on one hit in one-third of an inning pitched. DiNorcia, Martin and Buroni each had two of Le Moyne's nine hits, while Martin had three of the team's five runs batted in. Jose Rondon earned the win after getting the final three outs of the game, while allowing an unearned run one hit.

The Dolphins exploded for 10 runs over the first two innings of the nightcap. DiNorcia led off the game with his first career home run, a solo blast to center field. Charbonneau and Wright followed by drawing walks around a single up the middle by West to load the bases. After an out, Swetman knocked in Charbonneau with a ground out.

In the second inning, the Dolphins scored eight times on three hits and three Limestone errors. Nagelsmith reached on an error by the third baseman to open the frame and then was safe at second on an error by the shortstop as senior right fielder Jeremy Mathers (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger/Onondaga C.C.) reached on a fielder's choice. DiNorcia then doubled to left center to drive in Nagelsmith. Charbonneau followed with a sacrifice fly to center to plate Mathers. West then launched the ball over the fence in left center to make the score 6-0. Wright, Martin and Swetman then drew walks to load the bases around a Limestone pitching change. Freshman left fielder JT Pittman (Ashland, Mass./Ashland/Bridgton Academy) followed Swetman's walk with a single down the left field line to knock in Wright and Martin. Swetman then stole third and scampered home on a throwing error by the catcher, which allowed Pittman to race around to third. Nagelsmith then grounded out to second to knock in Pittman.

Limestone started its comeback with one run on one hit and a Le Moyne error in the bottom of the fourth. Right fielder Brett Gemmell reached second on a throwing error by the third baseman with one out. Two batters later, Conley singled up the middle to knock in Gemmell.

The Saints scored five times on four hits in the fifth inning. Anderson was hit by a pitch to start the frame and then took second on a wild pitch. After an out and Gonzalez was hit by a pitch, Booth singled down the right field line to drive in Anderson. Gonzalez then scored on a single up the middle by Gemmell. Following an out and a single by Conley to load the bases, Marcellus cleared the bases and forced a Le Moyne pitching change with a double to left field.

Limestone pulled within 10-8 in the bottom of the sixth with two runs on three hits. Scura doubled to left field with one out and then came around to score on a two-out double to left by Booth. Gemmell followed with a single up the middle to knock in Booth.


Le Moyne added an insurance run, which proved to be the game-winner, in the top of the seventh. Mathers was hit by a pitch with out and then stole second and took third on a throwing error by the catcher. DiNorcia then singled up the middle to drive in Mathers.

Limestone plated two runs in the bottom of the seventh on two hits, but left the tying run stranded at first. Conley led off the frame with a home run to left field and Marcellus followed with a solo shot to center to make it 11-10 and force a pitching change. Following an out, Anderson drew a walk, but he was retired at second as Scura reached on a fielder's choice. Gonzalez popped out to first base to end the game.

Redshirt junior righty Zach Place (Towanda, Pa./Towanda/Susquehanna) earned the win on the mound after tossing four and two-thirds innings in his first appearance in 21 months. Senior righty Conor Nolan (Syracuse, N.Y./Corcoran) earned his first save of the season after retiring three of the four batters he faced. DiNorcia registered three hits, three RBI and two runs scored to lead the Dolphins. West added three hits and two runs batted in. Ryan Cliff took the loss for the Saints after giving up eight runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks in just one and one-third innings pitched.

Le Moyne (2-1) returns to the diamond on Friday at 2:00 p.m. for the start of a three-game series against Millersville University in Williamston, N.C.