Syracuse, N.Y. – Southern Connecticut State University took over first place in the Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division by sweeping the Le Moyne College baseball team in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The Owls took the opener, 5-1, and posted a 5-3 win in the nightcap.

The Dolphins started the scoring in the opener as junior left fielder JT Pittman (Ashland, Mass./Ashland/Bridgton Academy) led off the fourth inning with a home run to right center.

The Owls evened the score at one apiece in the sixth as first baseman Tyler Criscuolo led off the frame with a home run to right field. The run snapped a streak of 26 straight scoreless innings by graduate student righty Sean Pisik (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee/Ursinus).

Southern Connecticut State took the lead in the seventh with two runs on two hits and one Le Moyne error. Designated hitter Connor Redahan opened the inning by reaching second on a dropped fly ball by the center fielder. Second baseman Ryan Kaplan then reached on a bunt single down the third base line to put runners at the corners. Right fielder Griffin Garabedian followed with a single through the right side to drive in Redahan and move Kaplan to third. Following a pair of pop outs and a pitching change, Kaplan scored on a wild pitch.

The Owls took advantage of three Le Moyne errors in the eighth to score two more runs. Center fielder Kyle Hart led off by reaching on a fielding error by the shortstop. Catcher Mike DeMartino then reached on a fielder's choice as Hart took second on a throwing error by the first baseman. Redahan then reached on a fielding error by the pitcher on a sacrifice bunt attempt to load the bases. Kaplan followed with a five-pitch walk to force in Hart, while DeMartino scored on a sacrifice fly to center by shortstop Jim Palmer.
 
Pisik suffered his first loss as a Dolphin after yielding three runs (one earned) on six hits over six and two-thirds innings, while striking out 10. Cole Bryant went the distance on the mound for the Owls to earn his sixth win of the season, while striking out three and allowing just five hits.

Southern Connecticut State opened the scoring in the second game with two runs on two hits and one Le Moyne error in the first inning. Palmer led off with a single up the middle and advanced to third on a throwing error by the second baseman after a pop out. Criscuolo then blasted a two-run homer to right center.

The Owls scored once in the second on two hits and one Le Moyne error. DeMartino led off with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a throwing error by the shortstop. Following a sacrifice bunt, Kaplan reached on a bunt single to the first baseman to knock in DeMartino.

SCSU added a run in the third on two hits and one Le Moyne error. Left fielder Nick Lamberti singled up the middle with one out and moved to second on a fielding error by the center fielder. After taking third on a single to the shortstop by Criscuolo, Lamberti stole home on a steal of second by Criscuolo.

The Owls completed their scoring with one run in the fifth on two hits and an error. Garabedian singled to right to start the frame, but was retired at second as Palmer reached on a fielder's choice. After a foul out, Criscuolo singled up the middle and then Palmer and Criscuolo advanced a base on a wild pitch. Third baseman Greg Zullo then reached on a fielding error by the second baseman, which allowed Palmer to score.

After being held hitless for the first eight innings, the Dolphins recorded a pair of hits and scored three times in the bottom of the ninth, but left the winning run on base. Catcher/designated hitter Camillo Spinoso (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy/George Washington) broke up the no-hitter with a single down the left field line to start the frame. After a foul out, senior third baseman/catcher Gabe Levanti (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker/Northeastern) and sophomore shortstop Josiah Gray (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) were hit by pitches to load the bases. Following a pitching change, freshman third baseman Nicholas Jacques (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Shenendehowa) drew an eight-pitch walk to force in Spinoso. Redshirt senior right fielder Mark Martin (Sauquoit, N.Y./Sauquoit Valley/Bryant) followed with a single down the left field line to drive in Levanti and Gray. Two of the next three batters were retired to end the game with the bases loaded.

Junior righty Alex Kubera (Dunkirk, N.Y./Dunkirk/Niagara C.C.) suffered the loss on the mound after yielding five runs (two earned) on nine hits over eight innings, while striking out 11. Brendan Ebert earned the win after striking out seven over eight and one-third innings, while yielding three runs and one hit. Quantique White picked up his third save of the season after getting the last two outs.

Le Moyne (21-10, 9-3 NE10, 6-2 SW) returns to action on Monday with a non-conference doubleheader against Kutztown University at 1:00 p.m.