Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College baseball team split a Northeast Conference doubleheader against LIU on Friday at Dick Rockwell Field with the help of a walk-off home run from senior infielder Benji Ries (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) in the bottom of the 10^th inning in game two.

LIU, which entered the series in second place in the NEC Standings with a 19-3 conference record, claimed a 4-0 win in game one behind a complete-game shutout from senior right-hander Garrett Yawn, who tallied 12 strikeouts with just four hits and three walks allowed over the 9.0 innings of work.

Le Moyne, which entered the series tied for fourth in the conference standings, faced an 11-6 deficit after six innings in game two. The Dolphins scratched across four runs in the bottom of the seventh with the help of a two-run, two-out double from senior outfielder Wyatt Patchett (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva), then a clutch RBI single from sophomore infielder Mike Whelehan (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) in the bottom of the ninth tied the game at 11-11.

Ries stepped to the plate with one out in the bottom of the 10^th and smashed a home run over the left field wall to give the Dolphins a walk-off victory in the nightcap. Ries, who also recorded a three-run home run in the third inning, registered his second multi-home run game of the season, and finished game two with a career-high five runs batted in.

Patchett provided three hits and three RBIs during the nightcap, while junior outfielder Paulie Goodness (Palmyra, N.Y./Palmyra-Macedon/Finger Lakes C.C.) contributed three hits, one walk, three runs and two stolen bases.

Junior right-handed pitcher Luke Connors (Brampton, Ontario/Heart Lake/Monroe C.C.) collected his first win on the mound as a Dolphin in game two after limiting the Sharks to two hits, one walk and zero runs with four strikeouts over the final 4.0 innings.

Freshman designated hitter Derek Diaz (White Plains, N.Y./Iona Prep) scored three runs with two walks and one hit during Le Moyne's 12-11 win. With Le Moyne trailing 11-10 with one out and nobody on in the bottom of the ninth, Diaz drew a walk to put the tying run on base and his pinch runner Ethan Farina (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa/Saint Rose) eventually came around to score on Whelehan's base knock.

Graduate left-handed pitcher Max Parker (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) delivered a quality start for Le Moyne in game one, allowing five hits and three runs with five strikeouts over 7.0 innings.

LIU scored two runs in the top of the fifth in game one to break the 0-0 tie, then added two more runs in the top of the eighth on back-to-back RBI singles from graduate center fielder Max Samson and freshman infielder/DH Tyler Benick. Benick finished game one with a team-high two hits, one walk and one RBI.

Sophomore catcher Cooper Romich (North Chili, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) recorded one double in both games of Friday's doubleheader, giving him a team-high 11 doubles on the year.

LIU senior catcher Jack Power recorded three hits, two RBIs and two runs during game two for the Sharks, while junior shortstop Ryan Rivera provided three hits, three runs and one RBI.

Le Moyne and LIU will play game three of the Northeast Conference series on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.