Syracuse, N.Y. —  The Le Moyne baseball team blasted a season-high seven home runs but came up short in a slugfest to NEC-leading FDU in game two of a three-game set on Saturday afternoon at Dick Rockwell Field, 19-13.
 
Six different players drove in runs for the Knights, and five homered, led by centerfielder Travis Stroh who recorded five hits, including three home runs, and drove in nine runs, all of which are career-highs. Catcher Nick Quagliato had four hits, including a home run, drove in two runs, walked once and stole two bases. Shortstop Johnathan Gomez drove in two runs on three hits, including a home run, walked once and stole one base, and right fielder Hunter Ray also drove in two runs on two hits, including a home run, walked once and stole one base. Designated hitter Jeremy Delamota added a home run, walked once and stole one base.
 
Right-hander Jeremy Cheesman made the start on the mound, pitching 4.0 innings of work and striking out three batters. Right-hander Nick Noble finished the final 5.0 innings in relief, striking out three batters and recording the win.
 
Five different players homered for the Dolphins, led by junior right fielder Jack Cannon (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) who homered twice, including an inside-the-park home run in the third inning, drove in four runs, walked once and stole one base. Junior first baseman Cooper Romich (North Chili, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) also homered twice and added two walks. Senior shortstop Adam Sullivan (Syracuse, N.Y./Marcellus) recorded four hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs. Senior center fielder Paulie Goodness (Palmyra, N.Y./Palmyra-Macedon/Finger Lakes Community College) recorded a career-high four hits, including a solo homer in the fifth inning for his first Division I home run and second collegiate homer.  Junior third baseman Ethan Farina (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa/Saint Rose) added two hits, including a solo shot for his first home run of the season.

Freshman right-hander Luke VanMarter (Jamesville, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt) made the start for Le Moyne, pitching 4.1 innings of work, striking out six batters and recording the loss.

The 14 home runs between the teams are the most in a game at Dick Rockwell Field, eclipsing the previous high of 10 in a 16-10 win on April 5, 2022 against D'Youville. The Dolphins blasted seven homers for the fourth time and for the second time at the Division I level (UMES, May 3, 2024). The Knights are the third team to hit seven home runs against the Dolphins and the first to do so since Wright State on April 8, 2011.
 
Two walks and a single loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the first inning for the Knights. Delamota then grounded a ball in the infield and a throwing error allowed him to reach and for two runs to score to give FDU an early 2-0 lead.
 
Second baseman Brady Fandl led off the top of the second with a single and Gomez homered to left field to make it a 4-0 game.
 
Romich lifted a two-out solo homer over the center field wall in the bottom of the second, his second of the season, to make it a 4-1 game.
 
Back-to-back one-out singles by Goodness and freshman left fielder Isaac Brozon (Aurora, N.Y. Southern Cayuga) gave the Dolphins runners on the corners in the bottom of the third. Cannon then lined a ball to right field, which got by the right fielder and rolled to the wall, allowing Cannon to round the bases for a three-run inside-the-park home run and tying the game at 4-4.
 
Singles by Stroh and Gomez put runners on the corners with one out in the top of the fourth and an RBI sacrifice fly by first baseman/catcher Garryn Plummer put the Knights back in front, 5-4.
 
Delamota led off the top of the fifth with a homer to left field, putting the Knights in front 6-4. Quagliato then singled before Stroh sent one over the left field wall for his first homer of the game, giving the Knights an 8-4 lead.
 
Goodness led off the bottom of the fifth with a homer to center field making it an 8-5 game. Three consecutive singles by Brozon, Cannon and Sullivan loaded the bases for the Dolphins and a balk allowed Brozon to score, making it 8-6. Cannon later scored on a  sacrifice fly to shallow right field by sophomore designated hitter Derek Diaz (White Plains, N.Y./Iona Prep) to make it 8-7.
 
Third baseman Diego Urreta singled and Mantuano walked to put runners on first and second with two outs in the top of the sixth. Quagliato then ripped a single to left field, scoring Urreta and making it a 9-7 game. A walk to Fandl loaded the bases before Stroh lined a grand slam over the center field wall, his second home run of the game, extending the Knights lead to 13-7.
 
Farina led off the bottom of the sixth with a homer to left field, his first home run of the season, making it 13-8. Cannon ripped a two-out solo shot to left field later in the inning, his second home run of the game, making it a 13-9 game.
 
Stroh ripped a one-out two-run double off the wall in center field in the top of the eight to make it 15-9. The next batter grounded out before Ray sent one well over the right field wall, making it a 17-9 game.
 
Sullivan hammered a one-out three-run homer to left field in the bottom of the eighth inning, his fifth of the season, making it a 17-12 game. The next batter lined out before Romich hit his second solo homer of the game to left field, making it 17-13.
 
Quagliato hit a one-out solo home run down the left field line in the top of the ninth, making it 18-13. The next batter flied out before Stroh homered to right center, his third home run of the game, giving the Knights a 19-13 lead.
 
Noble worked around a single to complete a scoreless bottom of the ninth inning and secure the 19-13 victory for FDU.
 
Le Moyne and FDU will finish the series on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.