Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College baseball team (25-15, 10-4 NE10) won a pair of two-run games on Thursday afternoon at Dick Rockwell Field against the Adelphi University Panthers (17-23, 4-10 NE10) to improve their NE10 record to 10-4 and extend their winning streak to 10 games.

The 'Phins claimed a come-from-behind win in game one with a five-run bottom of the ninth inning that was capped off by a walk-off grand slam home run from freshman Brody Keneston (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa), which lifted Le Moyne to an 8-6 victory.

The Dolphins took a 6-0 lead early on in game two before grinding out a 7-5 win against the Panthers to claim the first two games of the four-game NE10 Southwest Division series.

"Another good start from Max (Parker) and some clutch hitting got us the first one today," said Le Moyne head coach Scott Cassidy '98 following the doubleheader. "The guys had some really good at bats in the ninth and a great hustle play by (Drew) Carroll to beat the force at second base led to Brody's heroics. This team is never out of a game. They keep grinding out at bats and they believe in each other. It was a good day, but we've got to be ready to go tomorrow against a good team," Cassidy continued.

Junior left-handed pitcher Max Parker (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) started game one on the mound for the 'Phins and held the Panthers to two runs with seven strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work before being relieved by freshman right-hander Eric Swiencicki (Lancaster, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute). Sophomore righty Steven Freer (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) tossed the final 2.0 frames for the 'Phins and was credited with his first win of the season following the Dolphins' dramatic comeback in the bottom of the ninth.

After the Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third during game one, junior outfielder Jason Boule (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse)) delivered a two-run home run, the first long ball of his collegiate career, to give the Dolphins their first lead of the series.

Dewey Roden (Sherrill, N.Y./Vernon-Verona-Sherrill/UMass Lowell) launched a home run in both games of Thursday's doubleheader to increase his season total to six.

Freshman third baseman/left fielder Adam Sullivan (Syracuse, N.Y./Marcellus) delivered a two-run home run during game two to increase his NE10 RBI total to 20.

Sullivan, Boule and senior shortstop Nick Nevins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) each contributed two hits during the second half of the doubleheader.

Senior right-hander Sam DiGeorge (Canastota, N.Y./Canastota) started game two on the mound for the 'Phins and allowed three runs with four strikeouts in 5.0 innings to earn his third consecutive NE10 win and improve his overall record to 5-1.

After the Panthers scored two runs in the top of the sixth to make it a one-run game, and the 'Phins tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, senior right-hander Jed Boyle (Syracuse, N.Y./Corcoran) pitched a scoreless top of the seventh to secure the 7-5 win and earn his first save of the season.

As a team, the Dolphins have put together a .483 slugging percentage through 14 NE10 battles, which is the second-high percentage in the league. The Dolphins' 16 home runs during conference play this season is the most among NE10 Southwest Division squads. Le Moyne's 39 total home runs in 2023 is tied for the second most in the entire conference.

Sullivan leads all Southwest Division players with 20 RBI during conference play, and he's second in the division with nine extra-base hits against league opponents.

After another strong outing from Parker on Thursday, the left-hander from Manlius holds a league-best 1.55 earned run average against NE10 opponents.

DiGeorge's overall ERA this season stands at 1.96, which is the best earned run average among Northeast-10 Conference pitchers.

The Dolphins and the Panthers will return to Dick Rockwell Field on Friday to complete their four-game conference series. Game one of Friday's doubleheader will begin at 12:00 p.m.

Prior to Friday's first pitch, the Dolphins will celebrate Senior Day and recognize six individuals for their dedication and contributions to the Le Moyne baseball program: #2 Nick Nevins, #4 Phil Zollo, #5 Drew Carroll, #19 John Geer, #21 Jake Maser, and #33 Sam DiGeorge.

Game One:
With the score tied 0-0 after two innings, Adelphi senior catcher Alec Maag led off the top of the third and ripped a hard ground ball up the middle. Nevins ranged to his left and made a great sliding play to field the ball behind second base, but Maag hustled down the line and beat the throw to first for a single. A single up the middle from sophomore shortstop Jack Wishner later in the inning drove in Maag and gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

Sophomore catcher Benji Ries (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) helped the 'Phins answer back by smashing a double into the left-center field gap to lead off the bottom of the third.

Boule stepped to the plate next and fell behind in the count 0 and 2. Boule took a ball low on the 0-2 delivery, then fouled off a good two-strike pitch and took another ball to even the count at 2 and 2. On the 2-2 offering, Boule got a pitch in the strike zone and gave the ball a ride over the left field fence to give the Dolphins a 2-1 lead and record his first career home run in the green and gold.

Maag led off the top of the fifth for the Panthers and smashed a hard line drive towards third base. Sullivan reacted quickly at the hot corner, jumped high in the air and snagged the line drive well above his head to record the first out of the inning and rob Maag of a potential leadoff double down the line.

Parker held the Panthers scoreless in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, then Coach Cassidy went to the bullpen following a leadoff double in the top of the seventh.

The Panthers tallied four hits and four runs in the seventh to take a 5-2 lead. Adelphi starting pitcher John Rizzo completed 6.1 innings of work, then graduate right-hander Coleton Reitan took over on the mound with one out in the seventh inning.

With two outs and a runner on first for Le Moyne in the top of the seventh, Carroll hammered a line drive towards right field, but Adelphi's Tim Feliz ran in towards the ball and made a great diving catch to end the inning and rob Carroll of a base hit.

Adelphi extended their lead to 6-2 in the eighth via back-to-back two-out doubles from Maag and graduate left fielder Kyle Olson.

With one out in the bottom of the eighth, the left-handed swinging Roden jumped on a 1-0 pitch at the knees and lifted a fly ball over the fence in left-center field to trim Le Moyne's deficit to 6-3.

Le Moyne brought the tying run to the plate later in the inning following a Zach Brush single and a Wyatt Patchett walk, but Reitan recorded a strikeout to end the inning and strand both runners on base.

Freer recorded a quick 1-2-3 inning in the top of the ninth, then Ries, who is slashing .441/.487/.618 through 11 conference starts, led off the bottom of the ninth and hammered an 0-1 pitch into left field for a base hit.

Boule hit the ball hard to the right side during the next at bat, but Adelphi's Anthony Cipri ranged to his left to field the ball, then turned towards his left shoulder and got the lead runner at second base for the first out of the inning.

Boule advanced to second on a wild pitch, then Carroll drew a walk on a 3-2 count to put runners on first and second with one out.

Nevins then hit a ground ball towards the right side of the infield, and Cipri once again tried to get the force out at second. As soon as Nevins made contact with the pitch, Carroll shot out a cannon towards second base, and slid into the bag ahead of the throw. After failing to get the lead runner, Adelphi's Wishner tried to salvage the play and get Nevins at first, but Le Moyne's shortstop hustled down the line to reach safely and load the bases for the Dolphins.

Roden got ahead in the count 3-0 during the next at bat, then he took a 3-1 pitch inside for ball four to drive in Boule and make it a two-run game.

With the bases loaded and still just one out, Keneston stepped to the plate and quickly fell behind 0-2 after fouling off the first two pitches from Reitan. Keneston fouled off an 0-2 slider, then took a fastball high for ball one. On the 1-2 delivery, Reitan went back to the slider, but this time Keneston was ready for it.

Le Moyne's rookie cleanup hitter swung hard and squared up the pitch, sending a line drive over the left field fence to drive in four runs and end the contest in walk-off fashion.

Keneston's home run was his fifth of the season, and his second long ball during conference play, as well as his first collegiate grand slam. Keneston's four RBI in game one tied his season high which he set on February 18 against Mercy College.

Following his 6.0 innings of work on Thursday, Parker has gone at least six innings in each of his last five starts.

Maag and sophomore designated hitter Johnny Catuosco both recorded three hits for the Panthers during the setback.

Game Two:
After DiGeorge held Adelphi scoreless during the first two innings, Le Moyne jumped on the Panthers in the bottom of the second to the tune of six hits and six runs.

Senior center fielder Zach Brush (New York Mills, N.Y./New York Mills) led off the inning with a base hit through the right side of the infield, then with one out in the inning Sullivan went opposite field and ripped a line drive over the left field fence to break the tie and give the 'Phins a 2-0 lead. 

Sullivan had his 10-game hitting streak snapped after going 0 for 4 during game one against the Panthers, but he bounced back in game two with two hits and two RBI, including his fifth home run of the campaign.

With two outs in the bottom of the second, Boule stayed back on a 1-2 breaking ball from Adelphi starting pitcher Jacob Pedersen and deposited a base hit into the right-center field gap.

Carroll moved Boule to third with a single to left-center field during the next at bat, then Nevins moved Carroll to third and drove in Boule with a line drive base hit to right field.

Carroll scored from third on a balk, then Roden smashed a no-doubt home run over the right field fence to drive in two more runs and give the Dolphins a 6-0 advantage.

A leadoff single from Cipri in the top of the third, followed by two consecutive doubles from Feliz and senior first baseman Michael Draskin trimmed Adelphi's deficit to 6-2. With one out and runners on first and second, DiGeorge recorded a strikeout, then got two consecutive groundouts to end the inning and prevent further damage.

Adelphi got another run in the top of the fourth on an RBI-double from Feliz, then DiGeorge stranded two runners on base during a scoreless top of the fifth to complete his day's work. DiGeorge had retired the first two Adelphi hitters in the fifth, but Wishner drew a two-out walk with nobody on, then senior catcher Jose Matos singled through the left side to give the Panthers runners on first and second. Freshman third baseman Albert Ramos stepped to the plate next and hit a chopper in the hole between the third baseman and shortstop. Nevins moved quickly to his right and fielded the chopper deep in the hole, over 70 feet away from second base. Nevins turned and fired a long throw towards second and Carroll made a great stretch on the bag to record the 6-4 fielder's choice to end the inning.

Feliz recorded another RBI-double in the top of the sixth, then Catuosco ripped a two-out single to center field to drive in Feliz and make it 6-5 in favor of the Dolphins.

Wishner stepped to the plate next and ripped a fly ball to left-center field, but Brush raced over and made the catch in the gap to end the inning and strand two runners on base.

Sophomore right fielder Wyatt Patchett (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) reached base on a throwing error in the bottom of the sixth, then Sullivan moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.

With two outs in the inning, Boule turned on a pitch and ripped a low line drive that got past the third baseman and rolled into the outfield grass to drive in Patchett from second and give the Dolphins an insurance run.

Boyle entered the game for the top of the seventh and retired the first two batters he faced on fly balls to Patchett in right field. Following two consecutive two-out singles, Boyle got an infield popup to secure the win for the 'Phins and earn his first save of 2023. Boyle previously recorded a team-high four saves during the 2022 campaign.

Feliz recorded four doubles and two RBI during the game two defeat, while Cipri tallied four singles.and three runs scored.

The Dolphins remain in second place in the NE10 Southwest Division standings behind Southern Connecticut State (27-9, 10-2 NE10). Prior to Thursday's doubleheader, the Dolphins earned a spot in the first NCAA East Region 10-team Poll.