Uniondale, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College baseball team lost their NCAA Championship East Regional #2 elimination matchup against the Franklin Pierce University Ravens on Saturday by a score of 11-4. The Dolphins finished their season with a 27-25 record.

Graduate left hander Joe Vail (Cromwell, Conn./Xavier) started the game on the mound for Le Moyne and allowed just two runs in 5.1 innings of work.

The Franklin Pierce bats came alive towards the end of the contest, as the Ravens put up four runs in the 7^th inning, and five more in the bottom of the 8^th.

Third baseman Charles Lebron and center fielder Joel Lara both launched a home run for the Ravens. Lara scored two runs and drove in two more, as did shortstop Ian Battipaglia.

Jake Ursillo pitched three scoreless innings in relief to earn the pitching decision win for FPU.

Le Moyne graduate right fielder Michael Smith (Montebello, N.Y./Suffern) went 2-3 at the plate, he drew a walk, was hit by a pitch and scored a run. Graduate third baseman Derrick Miller (Westernville, N.Y./Rome Free Academy/Hudson Valley C.C.) recorded two hits during the loss, including a solo home run.
Senior shortstop Nick Nevins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) crossed the plate once and provided a team-high two RBIs for Le Moyne.

Randy Flores led off the bottom of the 1^st inning for Franklin Pierce with a triple. With a runner on third and nobody out, Vail got a ground ball right back to him. Vail looked at the runner then threw to first base for the first out of the inning. The 6'3" left-hander got the next batter swinging on a 3-2 pitch, then struck out the next batter as well to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.

Miller led off the top of the 2^nd inning and sent a 2-2 pitch flying over the left field wall to give the 'Phins a 1-0 lead.

Vail recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the 2^nd, then junior center fielder Zach Brush (New York Mills, N.Y./Utica Notre Dame) led off the top of the 3^rd for Le Moyne with a double in the right-center field gap.

FPU starting pitcher Chaz Powell was able to work around the leadoff double and get out of the inning without allowing another run.

The Ravens threatened in the bottom of the 3^rd and tried to drop down a squeeze bunt with a runner on third base. Vail fielded the bunt and threw home. Le Moyne catcher Drew Fureno (Canajoharie, N.Y./Fort Plain) applied the tag on the runner in time for the second out of the inning.

Nevins was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the 6^th inning, and Nick Hansen (Troy, N.Y./La Salle Institute/Hudson Valley C.C.) dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Nevins into scoring position.
With two outs in the inning, Jason Boule (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse)) swung at the first pitch he saw and hammered the ball down the left field line. Nevins came around to score, making it 2-0 in favor of the Dolphins.

Charles Lebron hit a two-run home run during the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 2-2.

Matt Tarby (Liverpool, N.Y./Bishop Grimes) entered the game in relief and got the final two outs of the inning.

Senior second baseman Drew Carroll (Clifton Park, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy (Albany)) ripped a single through the left side of the infield to lead off the top of the 7^th. Smith was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with zero outs.

After a pitching change for Franklin Pierce, senior first baseman Ty Syta (Hamburg, N.Y./St. Francis) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners over one base.
With runners on second and third base, Nevins lifted a 2-1 pitch into shallow left-center field and drove in both Carroll and Smith to put Le Moyne up 4-2.

The Ravens took the lead during the bottom of the 7^th inning. The Dolphins used three pitchers during the inning, and the Ravens scored four runs to take a 6-4 advantage.

Le Moyne went down 1-2-3 during the top of the 8^th, then Franklin Pierce scored five more runs in the bottom of the inning to put the game away.
The Dolphins recorded two base hits during the final inning, but were unable to create a dramatic comeback, and fell to the Ravens by a score of 11-4.