Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College baseball team earned their 10^th NE10 Conference victory of the season on Wednesday afternoon with a 5-4 win over the visiting Yellow Jackets of American International College on Dick Rockwell Field.

The Yellow Jackets were in Syracuse just twelve days ago for a four-game weekend series, but game four of the series was postponed, so the two sides squared off for the final time this regular season with a midweek nine-inning contest.

Jacob Maser (Chittenango, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse)) started the game on the mound for Le Moyne and struck out six batters in 2.0 innings of work.

Ryan DuBord (Old Saybrook, Conn./Old Saybrook) pitched 1.2 innings in relief, Matt Tarby (Liverpool, N.Y./Bishop Grimes) pitched 2.1 scoreless innings to earn the win, and Sam DiGeorge (Canastota, N.Y./Canastota) allowed just one hit, zero walks and zero runs in 3.0 innings to earn the save.

Ty Syta (Hamburg, N.Y./St. Francis) and Nick Hansen (Troy, N.Y./La Salle Institute/Hudson Valley C.C.) each hit a double during the win, while Michael Smith (Montebello, N.Y./Suffern) and Drew Fureno (Canajoharie, N.Y./Fort Plain) each recorded one RBI.

The Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 3-0 lead during the top of the 1^st inning.

Angel Mendez was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then Michael Cruz doubled down the right field line. With runners on second and third, Kiernan Caffrey doubled to left field to put his team up 2-0. An RBI single from Chad Lavelle later in the inning made it 3-0 in favor of AIC.

Syta led off the bottom of the 2^nd inning with a walk for Le Monye, then Hansen ripped a double down the left field line. With nobody out and runners on second and third, Smith lifted a fly ball to deep right field, which drove in Syta and allowed Hansen to tag up and take third. Drew Fureno came to the plate next and hit a ground ball to the shortstop. Hansen took off on contact and was able to cross the plate to trim the deficit to 3-2.

AIC scored a run during the top of the 4^th, then the Dolphins answered back in the bottom of the inning.

Nick Nevins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the 4th, then Syta hit a line drive into left-center field. The ball was hit in front of the outfielders, so Nevins was going to be held up at third base, until the ball was fumbled in the outfield, and Le Moyne head coach Scott Cassidy '98 waved Nevins around to score, making it 4-3 in favor of the Yellow Jackets.

Brady Fureno (Canajoharie, N.Y./Fort Plain) led off the bottom of the 5^th inning for Le Moyne and smacked a single in front of the right fielder.

Derrick Miller (Westernville, N.Y./Rome Free Academy/Hudson Valley C.C.) reached base on a fielder's choice, then Brush drew a walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Drew Carroll (Clifton Park, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy (Albany)) hit a ground ball to the left side which advanced Brush and Miller to second and third, respectively.

With two outs in the inning, Syta hit an infield pop up high in the air. Both runners were moving on contact. The AIC shortstop, Angel Mendez, came charging in. On a cold and windy day, the ball kept drifting closer to the plate, and Mendez ventured all the way to the bottom of the pitcher's mound before the ball hit the heel of his glove and fell to the ground. Miller and Brush both scored on the error, giving the 'Phins a 5-4 lead.

DiGeorge entered the game at the start of the 7^th, and delivered a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts during his first frame. DiGeorge got through the top of the 8^th, then got a 1-2-3 top of the 9^th to end the game and secure the win for the 'Phins.

The Le Moyne College baseball team will travel to Garden City, New York for a four-game weekend series against division foe Adelphi University beginning on Saturday at noon.