Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Sophomore pitcher/designated hitter Andrew Roden (Sherrill, N.Y./Vernon-Verona-Sherrill/UMass Lowell) struck out 10 batters and then drove in the eventual game-winning run to lead the Le Moyne College baseball team to a 6-5 victory over Molloy College on Sunday morning at The Ripken Experience.

Molloy opened the game's scoring with two runs on three hits in the third inning. Shortstop James Messina led off with a single to the shortstop and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Second baseman Sean Hogan then doubled to center field to drive in Messina. Right fielder Matt Overton followed with a triple to center to knock in Hogan.

Le Moyne took the lead with four runs on four hits in the fourth inning. Roden drew a walk with one out, moved to second on a single to right by junior left fielder Jeff Wilson (Rochester, N.Y./Greece-Odyssey) and took third on a single to right by junior right fielder Michael Smith (Montebello, N.Y./Suffern). Senior third baseman Nicholas Jacques (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Shenendehowa) followed with a single to center to knock in Roden. Junior first baseman Derrick Miller (Westernville, N.Y./Rome Free Academy/Hudson Valley C.C.) then lifted a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Wilson with the tying run. Junior catcher Drew Fureno (Canajoharie, N.Y./Fort Plain) followed with a double down the left field line to plate Smith and Jacques.

Molloy cut its deficit in half in the top of the seventh inning as third baseman Jake McCarthy led off the frame with a home run to right field.

The Dolphins pushed their lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the seventh with a pair of runs on three hits and two Molloy errors. Freshman second baseman Zach Brush (New York Mills, N.Y./Utica Notre Dame) singled through the right side with one out and senior center fielder Justin Tuey (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) followed with a single to center field. Sophomore shortstop Nick Nevins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) then reached on a fielding error by the first baseman, while Tuey advanced to third on a throwing error by the second baseman, which allowed Brush to score. Roden then singled to left field to drive in Tuey.

The Lions got the two runs back in the top of the eighth, but left the tying run stranded at third base. Designated hitter Peter Theodorellis led off with a single, but was thrown out trying to advance to third as Hogan singled up the middle. Overton followed with a double down the left field line to force a pitching change. Left fielder Chris Peralta greeted the new pitcher with a triple down the left field line to drive in Hogan and Overton. The next hitter grounded out and then McCarthy struck out swinging to end the frame.

The Lions went down in order in the ninth to end the game.

Roden recorded at least one strikeout in each inning of work, including three strikeouts in the second inning, while yielding three runs and scattering eight hits over six and one-third innings to earn his first collegiate victory. Sophomore Jacob Maser (Chittenango, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse)) recorded the final five outs, including two via strikes, to earn his first save of the season. Brush went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Wilson and Fureno each had two hits. Timothy Panetta took the loss after allowing four runs and eight hits over six innings, while striking out five.
 
Le Moyne (5-3) returns to action on Saturday for a doubleheader at Shippensburg University at 1:00 p.m.