Syracuse, N.Y. – Southern Connecticut State University used two late-inning rallies to sweep the Le Moyne College baseball team on Sunday afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division play at Dick Rockwell Field. The Owls won the opener, 5-3, and captured the nightcap, 4-2.

In the first game, the Dolphins struck for one run on one hit in the third inning. Junior first baseman Pat Wright (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) was hit by a pitch to open the inning and moved to third on a hit-and-run single through the left side by senior center fielder Jeremy Mathers (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger/Onondaga C.C.). Freshman right fielder/first baseman Brian Cox (North Kingston, R.I./North Kingston) followed with a sacrifice bunt to drive in Wright.

The Owls tied the score in the fifth inning on a two-out solo home run to right center by right fielder Alex Wichmann.

Southern Connecticut took the lead in the sixth with two runs on three hits. Third baseman Greg Zullo led off with a single to right center and moved to third on a double down the left field line by center fielder Matt Burns. Catcher Jake Lieberman then lifted a sacrifice fly to center to knock in Zullo and move Burns to third. Second baseman Nick Baviello followed with a single to right field to plate Burns.

Le Moyne knotted the game at three apiece in the seventh inning on three hits and one Southern Connecticut error. Junior catcher/designated hitter Trey West (Fairport, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) led off with a double down the left field line and came around to score on a double to center by Wright. After a pair of outs, junior second baseman Brett Charbonneau (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) singled back to the pitcher and moved to second on a throwing error, which allowed Wright to scamper home.

The Owls regained the lead three batters into the next frame. Following a one-out walk by Lieberman, Baviello crushed his first career home run over the fence in left field to give his team a 5-3 lead.

The Dolphins put two runners on base in each of the eighth and ninth innings, including runners at second and third with only one out in the ninth, but could not push across another run.

Freshman Max Tessitore (Averill Park, N.Y./Averill Park) suffered his first career loss after allowing two runs on one hit in one inning of work, while striking out three batters. West tallied three of Le Moyne's eight hits in the contest, while Mathers added a pair. Jason Harper, who was one out away from tossing a no-hitter last Sunday at Stonehill, earned his second straight win after yielding three runs (two earned) on six hits over seven innings, while striking out three batters. After inheriting two men on base, Pat Egan retired all three batters he faced to earn his first save of the season.

Following five and one-half scoreless innings to start the nightcap, Cox got the Dolphins on the scoreboard with a solo home run to left center to lead off the sixth inning.

The Owls answered back in the next half inning to even the score at one apiece. Wichmann led off with a single to left center and took second as the left fielder overran the ball. On a sacrifice bunt attempt by left fielder Brandon Docimo, the third baseman failed to pick up the ball, which allowed Docimo to reach first. Following a four-pitch walk to pinch-hitter Nilson Ibert to load the bases and a Le Moyne pitching change, Wichmann was retired at home as shortstop Ethan Joyce reached on a fielder's choice. Zullo then grounded out to the shortstop to drive in Docimo.

Le Moyne regained the lead with one run on two hits in the eighth inning. West led off with a double to left center and then Cox singled to left field to push West to third. Following a pitching change and West being retired at home on a fielder's choice, Mathers walked to load the bases. After a pop out, junior shortstop Dylan Swetman (Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) walked on five pitches to force in Cox.

Once again, Southern Connecticut answered in the next half inning by scoring three times on four hits. Joyce drew a walk with one out and Zullo followed with a single up the middle. Burns then singled to right field to drive in Joyce, while taking second as the catcher allowed the throw home to go through his legs. Lieberman then dropped a sacrifice bunt in front of the plate to knock in Zullo with the go-ahead run. Baviello followed with a single up the middle to score Burns and force a Le Moyne pitching change.

As he did in the first game, Egan retired all three batters he faced in the ninth inning to close out the game.

Redshirt junior Zach Place (Towanda, Pa./Towanda/Susquehanna) took the loss out of the bullpen after allowing three runs on four hits over two and two-thirds innings. Sophomore starter Ryan O'Kane (Memphis, N.Y./Bishop Ludden) registered 11 strikeouts in six-plus innings, while yielding an unearned run on five hits. After entering the game in the fourth inning, Cox recorded two of Le Moyne's four hits. Griffin Bremer picked up the win out of the bullpen for the Owls after tossing a scoreless eighth inning, while Egan earned his second save of the day and season.

Le Moyne (12-17, 5-6 NE-10, 5-6 SW) completes its non-conference schedule on Wednesday with a doubleheader at Bloomsburg University at 1:00 p.m.