Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne baseball team (10-13, 6-5 NEC) extended its win streak to four games, and claimed its first NEC series sweep on Saturday with an 11-6 win over Coppin State (5-16, 4-8) in the finale of a three-game series at Dick Rockwell Field.

The Dolphins previously claimed a 17-1 win against the Eagles on Thursday, then recorded an 8-1 victory in game two on Friday. Le Moyne began its 4-0 week with a 7-3 win at St. Bonaventure on Tuesday.

Senior left-handed starting pitcher Max Parker (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) improved his record this season to 2-0 after tallying seven strikeouts with three runs allowed in 6.2 innings of work. Redshirt-junior right-hander Billy Hoffacker (Erial, N.J./Timber Creek/Rowan College of South Jersey) recorded the final seven outs for Le Moyne to finish the series sweep.

"The guys did a great job putting a stamp on the weekend," said Le Moyne head coach Scott Cassidy '98. "Another great start from Max (Parker) and the guys were patient at the plate, drawing 13 walks, putting pressure on their staff. Gotta take this momentum into next weekend."

Junior catcher/designated hitter Benji Ries (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) smashed his second home run of the series, and his team-leading fourth home run of the season, all of which have come during conference play, with a solo shot to right field in the bottom of the third that extended Le Moyne's lead to 4-1. During game two on Friday, Ries recorded a career-high four RBI with his first career grand slam. Ries crossed the plate three times on Saturday, marking the fourth conference game this season that he has scored at least three runs.

Ries now leads all Northeast Conference players in runs scored during conference play with 15. During the three games against Coppin State he totaled six hits, two home runs, eight runs scored and seven runs batted in.

Senior catcher/designated hitter Brady Fureno (Canajoharie, N.Y./Fort Plain) provided a game high and personal season-high three runs batted in against the Eagles with an RBI single in the first inning, which gave the Dolphins their first lead of the game at 2-1 and extended his hitting streak to five games, and a two-RBI double down the right field line in the sixth that extended the lead to 9-1.

Le Moyne recorded a season-high 13 walks during the win, which ties a program record. Graduate first baseman Dewey Roden (Sherrill, N.Y./Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) recorded a game-high three walks, while Ries, sophomore outfielder Adam Sullivan (Syracuse, N.Y./Marcellus) and sophomore infielder Brody Keneston (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) each drew two walks.

For the CSU Eagles, junior left fielder Anthony Divittorio went 4-4 at the plate with a solo home run in the top of the first, and an RBI double in the eighth. Freshman outfielder Braylon Watson added two RBI with a home run in the seventh inning that trimmed CSU's deficit to 11-4, while junior shortstop Kai Holm provided two runs scored and an RBI single. Freshman right-hander Kaden Straily took the loss for Coppin State after allowing three hits, six walks and five runs in 5.0 innings.

For the second consecutive game, Le Moyne allowed the first run, but they quickly responded on Saturday with three runs in the bottom of the first. The Dolphins scored one run in both the third and fourth innings, then they took a double-digit lead with six runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Freshman infielder Mike Whelehan (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) recorded a one-out double to give Le Moyne its first base runner of the inning, then Brush and Roden walked to load the bases. Senior shortstop Nick Nevins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) lifted a sacrifice fly to left-center field to drive in Whelehan. Ries drew a walk to load the bases, then Sullivan drew a walk during the next at bat to drive in Brush. Following a pitching change, Fureno poked a double down the right field line to knock in Roden and Ries. Sullivan and Fureno both crossed the plate via wild pitches later in the inning to give the 'Phins an 11-1 lead.

Up Next:
With the series sweep, the Dolphins are now 6-5 in NEC play and have moved up to sixth in the league standings.

Le Moyne will continue its home stand with a midweek non-conference game against Canisius on Tuesday at 3 p.m., then the Dolphins will host the Stonehill Skyhawks for a three-game Northeast Conference series at Dick Rockwell Field beginning on Friday, April 5, at 3 p.m.