New Britain, Conn. – The Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils scored two runs in the bottom of the 10^th inning to claim a 3-2 win over the Le Moyne baseball team on Friday in the first contest of a three-game Northeast Conference series at the CCSU Baseball Field.

Le Moyne scored the first run of the game in the top of the sixth, and starting pitcher Jacob Crystal (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) held the Blue Devils scoreless for the first eight innings, then the home team tied the game with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to send the contest to extra innings.

Le Moyne went back in front with a run in the top of the 10^th, then CCSU once again tied the game in the bottom half, and recorded a walk-off win following a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the inning.

Crystal completed nine innings of work for the first time in his Le Moyne career, allowing six hits, two walks and just one run with four strikeouts. He received no decision in the outing after being replaced prior to the 10^th.

Outfielders Wyatt Patchett (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) and Zach Brush (New York Mills, N.Y./Utica Notre Dame) both drove in a run during the setback, while left fielder Jason Boule (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) and Jack Cannon (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder), who pinch ran for designated hitter Brady Fureno (Canajoharie, N.Y./Fort Plain) in the top of the 10^th, both scored a run.

Patchett and first baseman Dewey Roden (Sherrill, N.Y./Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) both provided a team-high two hits on Friday.

Just like Crystal, Central Connecticut State starting pitcher Jake Neuman went nine innings with six hits and one run allowed.  Left-hander Sam Hutchinson was credited with his third win of the season after getting the final out with a runner on third in the top of the 10^th.

CCSU second baseman Brady Short went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored the tying run in the bottom of the ninth, while Joe Rios drove in the tying run in the 10^th for the Blue Devils, and catcher Jeff Nicol provided the walk-off RBI after drawing a walk on a 3-2 count with the bases loaded and two outs.

Neither team put a runner in scoring position until the bottom of the fourth, when Short led off with a single for CCSU and left fielder Dan Hussey deposited a single to center field with out in the inning. Crystal recorded a strikeout during the next at bat, then got a ground out to the right side to strand both runners on base.

Boule stepped to the plate to begin the sixth inning and smacked a 1-0 pitch down the left field line for a leadoff double.

Brush fell behind 0-2 during the next at bat, then battled back to bring the count full before ripping a single through the right side of the infield to drive in Boule and give the Dolphins a 1-0 lead. Brush advanced to third in the inning following a sacrifice bunt from second baseman Mike Whelehan (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) and a deep fly ball to right field from shortstop Nick Nevins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham), but Neuman got a groundout to end the inning and strand Brush at third.

Short recorded another leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth, but Nevins, Whelehan and Roden spun a 6-4-3 double play during the next at bat to clear the bases, and Crystal got an infield popup to end the inning.

Roden swung at the first pitch he saw to leadoff the top of the seventh and drilled a line drive into the left-center field gap for a double. Neuman then retired the next three Le Moyne hitters with a strikeout and two groundouts to end the inning and strand Roden in scoring position.

Nicol led off the bottom of the seventh with a single for CCSU, but Whelehan fielded a chopper up the middle during the next at bat, stepped on second then turned and fired to first in time to record another double play for the 'Phins.

Crystal recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth, then Short led off the bottom of the ninth with a single. Right fielder Gianno Merlonghi dropped down a sacrifice bunt during the next at bat to move Short into scoring position, then Hussey hit a ground ball to the right side which allowed Short to advance to third. Short then crossed the plate on a wild pitch during the next at bat.

With the bases cleared, Crystal issued back-to-back walks, then struck out the next hitter swinging to end the inning and send the contest to extra innings.

Fureno led off the top of the 10^th for the Dolphins and ripped a ground ball through the left side of the infield to put the go-ahead run on base. Cannon then entered the game for Fureno as a pinch runner. Patchett stepped to the plate next and fell behind 0-2 while attempting a sacrifice bunt before taking the next pitch. On the 1-2 delivery, Cannon took off for second, and Patchett smashed the pitch down the left field line. Cannon scored standing up, and Patchett reached second with an RBI double.

CCSU designated hitter Aidan Redahan led off the bottom of the 10^th with a single to center field, then center fielder Michael Torniero moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Rios then stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter and sent a pitch to deep left field to bring in Redahan and tie the game at 2-2. Short was then walked, and Merlonghi singled through the right side to load the bases with one out.

Le Moyne relief pitcher Billy Hoffacker (Erial, N.J./Timber Creek/Rowan College of South Jersey) then struck out the next hitter for the second out, but Nicol drew a walk on a 3-and-2 count during the next at bat to drive in Rios and give the Blue Devils a 3-2 conference victory.

The Dolphins and the Blue Devils will meet back at the CCSU Baseball Field on Saturday at 1 p.m. for game two.