Games #28-30 vs. Sacred Heart University (NEC)
Info: April 12-14 | Bridgeport, Conn. | Veterans Memorial Park
Game One: Friday at 3 p.m.
Game Two: Saturday at 1 p.m.
Game Three: Sunday at 12 p.m.
Watch: Youtube .... Live Stats: sacredheartpioneers.com
Sacred Heart Links: Schedule | Roster | News | Stats

Bridgeport, Conn. – The Le Moyne College baseball team will continue its inaugural Northeast Conference slate with three games against Sacred Heart University this weekend at Veterans Memorial Park in Bridgeport. Game one is set for Friday at 3 p.m., game two will be played on Saturday at 1 p.m., with game three scheduled for Sunday at 12 p.m. Friday's contest will mark the first-ever game between the two programs.

Le Moyne (12-15, 8-6 NEC), which most recently suffered a non-conference loss at Binghamton University on Tuesday, has won five of its last six Northeast Conference games. In their first home NEC series at Dick Rockwell Field, the Dolphins claimed a three-game sweep against Coppin State University.

Left-handed starting pitcher Jacob Crystal, who allowed just one hit, one walk and zero earned runs in 7.0 innings in game two against the Eagles, and catcher Benji Ries, who tallied six hits, eight runs, two home runs and seven RBI during the three conference wins, were named Pitcher of the Week and Player of the Week, respectively, following the Coppin State series. Le Moyne outscored Coppin State 36-8 during the three-game series, including a 17-1 win in game one, which is the most runs scored by a Le Moyne team in a single game since the 2022 season.

After dropping game one of their home series against Stonehill last Saturday, the Dolphins bounced back with two wins against the Skyhawks on Sunday to claim their second consecutive series victory.

Stonehill scored a go-ahead run in the top of the ninth in game two, but Le Moyne first baseman Dewey Roden came up big with a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to even the series at 1-1. Right-handed reliever Billy Hoffacker earned his third win of the season after tossing 3.0 innings in relief, while freshman second baseman Mike Whelehan provided a season-high three hits along with two runs and two RBIs.

In the rubber match against the Skyhawks, Le Moyne claimed a 9-3 win. Outfielder Wyatt Patchett and infielder Brody Keneston both homered and finished the game with two hits and three runs scored each, while Whelehan added two hits and three RBI. Whelehan was subsequently named NEC Co-Rookie of the Week and a Prime Performer for the first time this season following the series. Right-handed starting pitcher Jordan Goldmann improved to 4-0 in league play after completing 7.0 innings of work in the series finale.

Le Moyne, currently in sixth place in the NEC Standings, is one of four teams in the 12-team Northeast Conference to play less than 15 league games so far, but the Dolphins are third in the conference in runs scored (108) and doubles (28) through 14 games, and are second in RBIs (98), team batting average (.280), on-base percentage (.399) and slugging percentage (.429). Le Moyne's pitching staff is one of four teams in the NEC to have an ERA under 4.00 during league play.

Individually, center fielder Zach Brush ranks in the top 10 among NEC players in hits during conference play with 22, Roden and shortstop Nick Nevins are in the top 10 in doubles, Roden leads all NEC players with 16 walks, Ries is in the top 10 in home runs with four, and Keneston is fifth in RBIs with 17 through 11 conference starts. Crystal, one of eight pitchers in the NEC to have already surpassed 30 innings pitched during conference play, ranks 10^th in opponent batting average (.225).

Scouting the Pioneers:
Sacred Heart (16-13, 12-3 NEC) is led by head coach Pat Egan, who is in his third season as the program's leader.

SHU went 17-13 in league play during the 2023 season to earn the No. 4 seed in the NEC Tournament where they were eliminated by the eventual champion Central Connecticut State after claiming wins over fifth-seeded LIU and third-seeded FDU.

So far this season, the Pioneers are currently in first place in the NEC Standings with a 12-3 conference resume.

SHU has won all five of its conference series in 2024. The Pios claimed sweeps against Merrimack and Stonehill, and took two of three games against FDU, LIU and most recently Coppin State.

Junior center fielder Zach Kovalchik (5-for-11, 8 runs, 3 HRs, 6 RBIs) was named the NEC Player of the Week following the Coppin State series this past weekend, while junior first baseman Dante D'Amore (7-for-11, 3 runs, 2 HRs, 8 RBIs) was named a Prime Performer.

On the year, Kovalchik leads the Pios in hits (31), home runs (5), runs (22) and RBIs (25).

During conference play, Kovalchik, first-year utility player Ronan Donohue, and first-year infielder/outfielder Peter Link are batting above .300 with at least 48 plate appearances each.

SHU senior right-handed starting pitcher Jake Babuschak, who was a 2023 All-NEC Second Team selection, holds a 5-0 record in NEC play so far this season in five starts and a team-high 36.1 innings pitched with a team-best 27 strikeouts against conference opponents. First-year right-hander Elijah Foster is second on the team in strikeouts during NEC play with 24, and holds a 1-0 record through five conference starts, while first-year right-hander Joe Trombley holds a 3.42 ERA through five conference starts. Sacred Heart's pitching staff is third among NEC teams in ERA during conference play at 3.64, and they are first in opponent batting average (.229).

Up Next:
Following the series at Sacred Heart, the Dolphins will play their first midweek non-conference home game against Niagara University on Tuesday at Dick Rockwell Field, then they will play a three-game NEC series at Wagner College.