Syracuse, N.Y. - The Le Moyne College baseball team will host a four-game Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division series on Dick Rockwell Field this weekend against the American International College Yellow Jackets. The two sides will play a doubleheader on Friday afternoon beginning at 1:00 p.m., then the Dolphins and the Yellow Jackets will play two more games on Saturday to conclude the series.

Le Moyne currently sits atop the Northeast-10 Southwest Division standings after winning two of three games during a weekend series at division foe Southern Connecticut State in the beginning of April, then the Dolphins claimed three wins during a four-game series on Dick Rockwell Field against NE10 Southwest Division opponent New Haven to improve to 5-2 in conference play so far this season.

The Dolphins allowed just eight runs in 32 innings during the series win against the Chargers, as all four Le Moyne starting pitchers delivered solid outings.

During game one on Sunday against New Haven, which the Chargers won 3-2, sophomore left-hander Max Parker (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) allowed just four hits in 6.0 innings of work and did not receive a pitching decision.

Le Moyne bounced back in the seven-inning game two contest behind a complete-game, shutout performance on the mound from junior right-hander Jacob Marshall (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker). Marshall allowed just two hits to lead the Dolphins to a 1-0 victory. On the season, Marshall is 2^nd in the NE10 among all pitchers with 67 strikeouts. He has recorded at least 10 strikeouts in four of his eight appearances so far this year.

During game one of Monday's doubleheader, another seven-inning contest, graduate left-hander Joe Vail (Cromwell, C.T./Xavier) delivered a complete game victory, and did not allow a run during the final six innings of the conference battle to complete a 5-3 'Phins win.

In the series finale, senior right-hander Jacob Maser (Chittenango, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) allowed just two runs in 5.0 innings of work, and the Dolphins smashed seven homeruns on their way to a 12-2 win.

Graduate right fielder Michael Smith (Montebello, N.Y./Suffern) had an incredible weekend at the plate, as stated by his head coach Scott Cassidy '98.

During the series win against New Haven, Smith went 11-15 with two homeruns and seven RBI. Smith recorded the go-ahead RBI during Le Moyne's 1-0 victory in game two of the conference series, then Smith launched a three-run moonshot in the bottom of the 5^th inning in game three to give Le Moyne the 5-3 lead that they held on to until the end. Smith saved his best for last during Le Moyne's 12-2 series finale win, during which he went 4-5 with a homerun, two RBI and two runs scored.

On the season Smith is hitting .362, slugging .600 with six homeruns, 28 RBI, seven doubles and 20 runs scored. His 28 RBI are the seventh most in the NE10 so far this season.

Ty Syta (Hamburg, N.Y./St. Francis) is also hitting .362 with six homeruns on the year, and the Le Moyne cleanup hitter has driven in 35 runs so far this season, which is the second most In the NE10. Syta is slugging a team-best .649 with five doubles and 27 runs scored through 28 games played.

Graduate catcher Drew Fureno (Canajoharie, N.Y./Fort Plain) has been outstanding behind the plate as the 'Phins primary catcher. Fureno's defensive abilities are highly acclaimed by his coaching staff, and he has been a consistent bat in Le Moyne's lineup this season. In 24 starts, Fureno is hitting .357 with a .489 on base percentage.

Le Moyne's leadoff hitter, center fielder Zach Brush (New York Mills, N.Y./Utica Notre Dame) provides some speed and pop at the top of the lineup for the 'Phins. On the year Brush is hitting .342 with four homeruns, nine stolen bases, seven doubles, 20 RBI and 25 runs scored with .414 on base and .514 slugging percentages.

Senior Drew Carroll (Clifton Park, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy (Albany)), who hits in the two-hole for the 'Phins, has drawn a team-high 18 walks this year, and has stolen a team-best 11 bases. Carroll has scored 31 runs this season, which is tied for 5^th most in the NE10, and has been an extremely reliable glove at second base with a .964 fielding percentage.

Senior shortstop Nick Nevins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) has put together a .403 on base percentage through 29 starts this season, batting third in the lineup for the 'Phins. Nevins has launched two homeruns, six doubles and a triple, he has driven in 19 runs and crossed the plate 28 times so far this season.

Sophomore left fielder Jason Boule (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse)) has been a consistent bat in the 'Phins lineup this season. In his first full season as a Dolphin, Boule has recorded 29 hits in 87 at-bats to go along with 14 walks, establishing a .333 average and a .437 on base percentage through 26 starts this season.

The 'Phins have also benefitted from the return of graduate outfielder/designated hitter Nick Hansen (Troy, N.Y./La Salle Institute, Hudson Valley C.C.) who provides the Le Moyne lineup with more options, depth, experience, and power.

Since returning from injury against D'Youville, Hansen has started six games for the 'Phins, during which he has gone 5-15 at the plate with a .500 on base percentage, two doubles, a homerun and two runs scored.

American International College will travel to Syracuse with two Northeast-10 Conference victories. The Yellow Jackets have defeated Saint Rose and Pace so far this season.

Senior right-handed pitcher Mason St. Pierre and redshirt-junior right-hander Ethan Teixeira have both started seven games on the mound for the Yellow Jackets so far this season, and both have recorded 32 strikeouts on the year.

Junior first baseman Alejandro Mosquera is currently hitting .364 with a .636 slugging percentage. Mosquera has six doubles, five homeruns and 18 RBI on the year for AIC.

Junior second baseman Chad Lavelle is leading the Yellow Jackets in runs scored with 23, RBI with 24, and he is leading the entire NE10 with 21 stolen bases. Graduate shortstop Angel Mendez has a .446 on base percentage, he has stolen six bases, scored 18 runs, and recorded 12 RBI so far this season.