Syracuse, N.Y. – The Merrimack College Warriors recorded a 15-5 win over the Le Moyne College baseball team on Friday in the first contest of a three-game NEC series at Dick Rockwell Field. On a rainy day in Syracuse, the Warriors outslugged the Dolphins with six home runs compared to Le Moyne's three.

First baseman Braydon Dolbashian led Merrimack at the plate with three home runs and a game-high four RBIs, while center fielder Christian Gemelli provided a home run, two singles, three RBIs and two runs scored.

Senior designated hitter Brady Fureno (Canajoharie, N.Y./Fort Plain), sophomore third baseman Brody Keneston (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) and junior catcher Benji Ries (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) each homered for Le Moyne during the setback, with Keneston and Ries registering a team-high two hits each.

Third baseman Dawson Bryce and Dolbashian both homered in the top of the first inning to give the Warriors an early 3-0 lead, then a two-out, two-run home run from Fureno in the bottom of the inning cut Le Moyne's deficit to one.

Merrimack then got both runs back in the top of the second to extend its lead to 5-2.

Keneston lifted a home run over the center field wall to lead off the bottom of the third for the Dolphins. With one out in the inning, sophomore outfielder Tyler Campbell (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill/Onondaga C.C.) ripped a double to left field, then Ries followed that up with a two-run shot over the right field wall to tie the game at 5-5.

Merrimack went back ahead with a solo home run from catcher Frankie Ferrentino to lead off the third inning, then starting pitcher Andrew Heffernan settled in and held the Dolphins scoreless over the next four innings as the Warriors built a 12-5 lead.

Senior right-hander Casey Hegan took the mound for Merrimack to begin the bottom of the seventh and tossed three hitless and scoreless innings to earn his first save of the campaign and close out the conference victory for the visitors.

Le Moyne junior left-handed starting pitcher Jacob Crystal (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) completed 5.1 innings of work in his 13th start of the season, then freshman left-hander Jack Cannon (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) logged 3.2 innings in relief.

Le Moyne (19-25, 12-15 NEC) and Merrimack (25-24, 17-11) will play game two of the series on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Dolphins will hold a 'Senior Day' ceremony prior to first pitch beginning at 12:35 p.m.