Syracuse, N.Y. – The LIU Sharks claimed an 8-2 win over the Le Moyne College baseball team Saturday at the OCC Baseball Complex in the rubber match of a three-game Northeast Conference series in Syracuse.
The Dolphins and the Sharks split a doubleheader on Friday at Dick Rockwell Field, and LIU secured the series win on Saturday with the help of three RBIs from freshman designated hitter Mason Breton.
Redshirt-sophomore right-handed starting pitcher Nicholas Finarelli collected his seventh win of the season for the Sharks after limiting the Dolphins to two runs, eight hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in 8.0 innings of work.
LIU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as graduate outfielder Jacob Pipercic drew a leadoff walk, stole second base, advanced to third on a fly ball to right field, and scored following a base hit up the middle from junior infielder Ryan Rivera.
With two outs and nobody on in the top of the second, Pipercic ripped a triple down the right field line, then senior infielder Benjamin Fierenzi poked a single to right field to drive him in and give the Sharks a 2-0 advantage.
Le Moyne senior right-handed starting pitcher
Bobby McBride (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster/UConn/Coastal Carolina) struck out two LIU hitters during a scoreless top of the third, and retired 10 consecutive batters between the third and sixth innings. McBride recorded four consecutive scoreless frames after the Sharks went up 2-0, and finished his ninth start of the season with six strikeouts, four hits and two runs allowed in 6.0 innings of work.
LIU extended its lead with four runs in the top of the seventh via a sacrifice fly from Rivera, an RBI bunt single from redshirt-sophomore infielder Noah Sorensen, and a two-run single through the right side from Breton.
Le Moyne scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the eighth. Senior outfielder
Wyatt Patchett (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) smoked a double to right-center field to lead off the inning, then moved over to third on a ground ball from sophomore infielder
Mike Whelehan (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton). With two outs in the inning, sophomore outfielder
Jack Cannon (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) placed a line drive into the left-center field gap to bring Patchett around to score.
LIU added two more runs in the top of the ninth on a two-run home run from Breton.
Freshman infielder
Tim Denet (West Harrison, N.Y./Iona Prep) led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to left field and came around to score later in the inning.
LIU redshirt-senior left-handed reliever Evan Panjwani recorded the final three outs for the Sharks to close out the 8-2 win.
Le Moyne sophomore infielder
Adam Sullivan (Syracuse, N.Y./Marcellus) recorded a team-high three hits for the Dolphins during the setback, while Patchett contributed two hits and one run.
LIU improved to 20-4 in NEC action with the series victory, and is now tied for first place in the NEC Standings alongside Central Connecticut State.
Le Moyne dropped to 15-9 against Northeast Conference competition following Saturday's loss.
The Dolphins will play their next four games on the road, as they head to Niagara University for a midweek non-conference matchup against the Purple Eagles on Tuesday, followed by a conference series at Mercyhurst from May 9-11.
