Myrtle Beach, S.C. – The Le Moyne College baseball team split their doubleheader with the Saint Thomas Aquinas College Spartans on Friday afternoon at the Ripken Experience.

STAC claimed a 13-4 win during the first half of the doubleheader (a nine-inning contest) then Le Moyne won game two (a seven-inning contest) by a score of 2-1 with the help of a walk-off base hit from Wyatt Patchett (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva).

Junior left-handed pitcher Max Parker (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) allowed just two hits, one run, and struck out 11 batters in 7.0 innings of work to help Le Moyne win a thrilling pitching duel in game two.

Jed Boyle (Syracuse, N.Y./Corcoran) pitched a perfect top of the eighth inning to earn the win on the mound, while senior infielder Philip Zollo (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) scored the game winning run after recording a clutch leadoff base hit in the bottom of the eighth.

"It was a great bounce-back win in game two," said Le Moyne head coach Scott Cassidy '98 following the team's first day of competition at the Ripken Experience. "The guys showed a lot of grit after losing the lead late and put together some great at bats to get the win. Max was fantastic on the mound the entire game and Jed shut them down in the eighth. The pitching definitely kept us in that game. Hopefully we can build on that momentum and string together a few victories," added Cassidy.

Parker allowed just one baserunner during the first five innings before giving up the lone run in the top of the seventh.

"I was feeling good. I had to make a few adjustments as we went but the off-speed (pitches were) working well, I tried to keep them off balance. It worked out... It's great to see the team win, especially in walk-off fashion. It felt great, it was a good time," said Parker.

Parker delivered a 1-2-3 inning during the top of the first in game two, then Le Moyne took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning.

Junior center fielder Zach Brush (New York Mills, N.Y./Utica Notre Dame) smashed a one-out double into right-center field, then Dewey Roden (Sherrill, N.Y./Vernon-Verona-Sherrill/UMass Lowell) ripped a base hit through the right side. Brush then scored from second base after Brody Keneston (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) hit the ball to the right side and beat out a double-play attempt.

The game remained 1-0 in favor of the Dolphins in game two until the top of the seventh inning, when the Spartans tied the game with a walk and a hit by pitch followed by a one-out single through the left side of the infield.

Parker struck out the final two batters of the inning to keep the score at 1-1 going into the bottom of the frame.

Le Moyne loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Saint Thomas Aquinas relief pitcher Bryan Krolikowski got a ground ball to end the inning and send the game to extra innings.

Boyle entered the game in relief for the top of the eighth and delivered a 1-2-3 inning.

Zollo, who pinch-ran for Brady Fureno (Canajoharie, N.Y./Fort Plain) during the bottom of the sixth, stepped to the plate for Le Moyne to lead off the bottom of the eighth. Zollo worked a full count, then drove the 3-2 pitch over the shortstop's head, into left-center field to give Le Moyne a baserunner with zero outs.

Sophomore catcher Benji Ries (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) dropped down a sacrifice bunt, and the STAC pitcher tried to get the force out at second base, but the speedy Zollo beat the throw to second to give Le Moyne a runner in scoring position.

Patchett stepped to the plate next, and found himself in a 1-2 count. Patchett turned on the next pitch he saw, and smashed it down the left field line. Zollo came around from second base to score easily, and the 'Phins celebrated a walk-off victory by dousing Patchett with cold water in the infield.

"(My mindset during the final at bat with two strikes was to swing at) anything close. Just trying to compete in there. I got an inside fastball and gave it a ride…. I saw it down the line. It's my first ever walk-off. [It was a] real intense game. Seeing the ball land fair, seeing (Phil Zollo) cross the plate, seeing all the fellas getting hype, there's no better feeling than that," said Patchett after the game.

Fureno and Roden both recorded a team-best two hits during the game two win.

STAC graduate right-handed pitcher John Archer allowed just one run in 6.0 innings of work during his team's first loss of the season.

Junior right-hander Billy Hoffacker (Erial, N.J./Timber Creek/Rowan College of South Jersey) started game one on the mound for the 'Phins and tallied five strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work. Junior righty Kennen Smith (Poughquag, N.Y./Arlington) pitched 3.0 innings in relief, then sophomore right-hander Steven Freer (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) got the final out of the sixth inning and pitched a scoreless frame in the bottom of the seventh. Graduate right-hander John Geer (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) pitched the bottom of the eighth inning for Le Moyne.

Brush, senior shortstop Nick Nevins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) and redshirt-sophomore pitcher Jordan Goldmann (Encinitas, Calif./Canyon Crest Academy/Palomar College/Grossmont College) each recorded an RBI during the game-one setback.

Saint Thomas Aquinas graduate right-handed pitcher Aaron Dona tallied seven strikeouts and allowed three runs in 7.0 innings pitched during game one, which was the season opener for the Spartans.

Graduate right fielder Andrew Guerra hit two home runs for STAC during the win, while redshirt-sophomore left fielder Nick O' Connor tallied a game-high five RBIs.

The Le Moyne College baseball team will return to the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach on Saturday morning for an 11:00 a.m. battle against University of Bridgeport.