Pleasantville, N.Y. – Sophomore pitcher Ryan Murphy (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) was dominant on the mound for the second straight start en route to leading the third-seeded Le Moyne College baseball team to a 2-1 upset of second-seeded Pace University in the first round of the Northeast-10 Conference Championships on Tuesday afternoon at Finnerty Field.

With the win, and fourth-seeded Southern Connecticut State's 9-6 upset of top-seeded Adelphi University, the Dolphins (23-23) earn the right to host the NE10's Championship Weekend for the first time. The Dolphins, Owls, Merrimack College and Franklin Pierce University will compete in the double-elimination tournament Thursday through Saturday at Onondaga Community College. Merrimack and Southern Connecticut State will meet in Thursday's first game at 10:00 a.m. and Le Moyne and Franklin Pierce will follow at 1:30 p.m. The non-winning teams from the first two games will then meet in an elimination game at approximately 5:00 p.m. The full schedule of Championship Weekend is at the bottom of the page.

Following three scoreless innings to start the game, the Dolphins got on the scoreboard. Freshman shortstop Nick Nevins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) led off with a double to left center and moved to third on a single to left by senior catcher Camillo Spinoso (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy/George Washington). Nevins then scored as the Setters turned a double play.

Le Moyne doubled its lead in the sixth inning. Senior left fielder David DiNorcia (Naples, Fla./Seacrest Country Day) opened the frame with a double to left field and then moved to third as Nevins reached on a throwing error by the catcher. Spinoso then singled to left field to drive in DiNorcia.

After advancing a runner to third base in the first inning, the Setters didn't accomplish the feat again until the bottom of the ninth. Designated hitter Luke Jacobi singled to left with one out and third baseman Dean DePreta followed with a single to the shortstop, while Jacobi took third on a throwing error by the shortstop. Catcher Michael Barbato then knocked in Jacobi with a groundout. The next hitter struck out on three pitches to end the game.

Murphy finished the game with four strikeouts and just the unearned run allowed, while yielding just seven hits and not walking a batter. Murphy has recorded back-to-back nine-inning complete games without allowing an earned run. Spinoso was the only batter in the game to finish with two hits. Dan Wirchansky took the loss for the Setters after allowing two runs over eight innings, while striking out five.

Full NE10 Baseball Championship Weekend Schedule

Thursday, May 9th, Friday, May 10th and Saturday, May 11th (Hosted by Le Moyne at Onondaga Community College)
Thursday
Game 5:  #4 SW Southern Connecticut vs. #3 NE Merrimack – 10:00 a.m.
Game 6:  #3 SW Le Moyne vs. #4 NE Franklin Pierce – 1:30 p.m.
Game 7:  Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser – approximately 5:00 p.m.
Friday
Game 8:  Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
Game 9:  Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser
Saturday
Game 10:  Game 9 winner vs. Game 8 winner
Game 11:  If necessary.