Springfield, Mass. – Sophomore designated hitter Nick Place (Towanda, Pa./Towanda) recorded three hits and drove in two runs to lead the Le Moyne College baseball team to a 9-4 victory over American International College on Sunday afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division action at Bedard Field.

The Dolphins exploded for six runs and six hits with two outs in the top of the third inning. Junior first baseman Brian Cox (North Kingstown, R.I./North Kingstown) drew a walk following a pair of strikeouts to start the inning and then came around to score on a double to right center by redshirt sophomore second baseman Ben Walsh (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill). Sophomore third baseman Camillo Spinoso (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy/George Washington) followed with a triple to center to drive in Walsh. Place then doubled to right field to knock in Spinoso. Junior left fielder JT Pittman (Ashland, Mass./Ashland/Bridgton Academy) followed with a triple to center to score Place. Pittman then raced home on a passed ball for a 5-0 lead. After senior catcher Gabe Levanti (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker/Northeastern) singled through the left side, sophomore shortstop Josiah Gray (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) doubled down the left field line to plate Levanti.

American International answered back with one run in the bottom of the third. Center fielder Josh Aviles walked with one out, stole second, took third on a groundout and scored on a triple down the right field line by first baseman Chris Starcun.

Le Moyne added three runs on three hits in the sixth inning. Senior center fielder Donato DiNorcia (Naples, Fla./Seacrest Country Day) drew a walk to open the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Cox walked, Walsh singled to right center to knock in DiNorcia. Spinoso then singled to plate Cox. Place followed with a double down the left field line to drive in Walsh with the final run.

The Yellow Jackets scored twice in the seventh on two hits to cut their deficit to 9-3. Aviles singled with one out, but was retired at second as third baseman K.J. White reached on a fielder's choice. Starcun then doubled down the right field line to knock in White. On a wild pitch, Starcun was able to race around from second to score.

American International completed the game's scoring with a run in the eighth on three hits. Pinch-hitter Dan Frawley led off with a single to center and then moved to third on a double by right fielder Owen Wosleger. After a pitching change and a pair of strikeouts, second baseman Brendan Carter singled to drive in Frawley.

Senior righty Damian Powers (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) earned his first win of the season after striking out three over six innings, while yielding just one run. With his third strikeout of the game, which was of the first batter of the sixth inning, Powers tied Brian Mattoon '03 for the second-most strikeouts in the program's history with 240. In addition to Place's three-hit performance, Walsh, Spinoso and Pittman each had two hits. Jason Coscio suffered the loss after giving up six runs and eight hits over four-plus innings.

Le Moyne (14-8, 2-1 NE10, 1-0 SW) and the Yellow Jackets conclude the three-game series on Monday with a doubleheader beginning at 12:30 p.m.