For Immediate Release
May 13, 2012
BOX SCORE
Dolphins hold off Ravens rally in ninth
following four-run sixth inning comeback
Manchester, N.H. – Le Moyne College third baseman Matt Marra (pictured) delivered the go ahead two-run single with two outs in the sixth as part of a four-run inning to lead the second-seeded Dolphins to a 6-5 victory on Sunday over second-seeded Franklin Pierce University on the campus of Saint Anselm College.
It marks the first loss in championship play for Franklin Pierce, setting the stage between the same two teams for a winner-take-all contest to decide the 2012 Northeast-10 Conference Baseball Championship here today at Sullivan Park. That game is now underway and can be followed live online.
For live updates on Sunday's championship, be sure to follow the Northeast-10 on Twitter (@TheNortheast10).
Franklin Pierce seeks its fifth Northeast-10 title in program history and fourth in six years, while Le Moyne looks to claim this year's title in its first season back as a member of the Northeast-10 at the Division II level.
Le Moyne tied it up at 4-4 earlier in the sixth on a two-run home run by Paul Speicher, which followed an error by first baseman Zach Mathieu that allowed Pat Wiese to reach. Matthew Ciraco followed with a bunt single before taking second on an error, and Vincent Redmond was hit by a pitch to put two on with one out.
At that point, Franklin Pierce head coach Jayson King summoned Ryan Thompson from the bullpen, who retired Brett Botsford on a flyout before the Marra single.
That closed the books on Ravens starter Ryan Leach, who allowed four runs – three earned – on eight hits with six strikeouts over 5.1 innings of work to take the loss.
Opposing Leach was Le Moyne starting pitcher Ed Kohout, who got the win after going seven strong innings, allowing four runs – three earned – on seven hits. He struck out nine and walked just one.
Erik Lambe came on in relief of Kohout in the eighth and induced an inning ending double play with two Ravens aboard to preserve to two-run lead.
Closer Kevin Carroll allowed a run on two hits and walk in a tense ninth inning for his 10th save of the year, and got the Northeast-10 Player of the Year Mathieu to ground into a fielder's choice with the bases loaded to end it.
Marra finished 3-for-5 with the pair of RBI for Le Moyne while Speicher was 2-for-3 with the game-tying homer and three RBI. Dan Hennigan and Calvin Graves had two hits apiece for the Ravens.
After Kohout cruised through an easy first inning on seven pitches, Nick LaCroix drew a one-out walk in the second before Matt Walsh stroked a two-run shot to left center to give the Ravens the early 2-0 lead.
In the second, the Dolphins put runners on the corners with nobody out following a Ryan Mahoney leadoff double and an infield single by Wiese. Leach was then called for a balk on a third-to-first pickoff attempt, allowing Mahoney to come in the back door to make it 2-1. Le Moyne then tied it up on an RBI double by Speicher to the gap in left center.
Franklin Pierce designated hitter Isaac Wenrich led off the fifth with a homer to deep left center to give the Ravens a 3-2 lead. Graves then singled before going first to third on a Hennigan single through the right side to put runners on the corners with one out.
Kohout then got Dan Kemp to strike out swinging as Hennigan took off for second, with catcher Kyle Kalaka's throw going to third behind the runner as Graves darted for home. But the errant toss got past Marra as the Ravens went up 4-2.
Le Moyne responded by loading the bases with one out in the bottom half of the fifth, but Leach got Mahoney to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to escape the jam.
In the sixth, LaCroix singled and took second and third on a failed pickoff attempt and a balk by Kohout, but the right-hander got Wenrich to strike out looking to strand LaCroix.
With runners at second and third for the Ravens in the ninth, Hennigan plated a run to make it 6-5 with an infield single up the middle, on which Mahoney made a crucial diving stop to keep the tying run at third. Carroll then retired two of the next three hitters to force this afternoon's decisive second contest.
The Northeast-10 is an association of 16 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that is committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 5,500 student-athletes. Each year, 4,000 of those student-athletes compete in Conference championships in 23 sports, making the NE-10 the largest DII conference in the country. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
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