For Immediate Release
May 13, 2012
BOX SCORE
GAME 1 RECAP
Dolphins win a pair over Franklin Pierce to take home conference title
Manchester, N.H. – Le Moyne College claimed the 2012 Northeast-10 Conference Baseball Championship with a pair of victories over Franklin Pierce University on Sunday, capped by a 4-2 victory in the second game of the afternoon, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Championships in the process.
Franklin Pierce now awaits its own NCAA tournament fate, which will be determined tonight at 10:00 p.m. when the selection show airs on NCAA.com.
With the win, Le Moyne improves to 40-13-1 while Franklin Pierce falls to 36-17-1.
Northeast-10 Player of the Year Zach Mathieu connected for a solo home run to lead off the fourth, giving the Ravens a 1-0 lead that would stand until the seventh.
Making his first career collegiate start, Franklin Pierce freshman right-hander Matt Horan had cruised through the first six innings, allowing no runs on four hits, but began the seventh by hitting the first two batters he faced.
Rob Blanc came on in relief and got a fielder's choice at third on a sacrifice bunt attempt, but a passed ball allowed both runners to move up to second and third. That set the stage for Paul Speicher, who came through with a two-run single down the right field line to give Le Moyne a 2-1 lead.
The Dolphins plated another run in the inning on an RBI single by Vincent Redmond, although Matthew Ciraco was gunned down by rightfielder Nick LaCroix trying to score from second on the play.
In the bottom half of the seventh, Le Moyne reliever Michael Kitts, like Horan, hit the first two batters he faced, forcing head coach Scott Cassidy to call on Matt Marra after starting the game at third base.
Dan Kemp came through with a sacrifice bunt to move both runners up, and James Roche followed with an RBI single to make it 3-2, although he was thrown out after sliding over the bag at second trying to advance on the throw to the plate.
Marra then intentionally walked Mathieu to get to LaCroix, who flied out to left to keep the score at 3-2.
Le Moyne added another in the top of the ninth on an RBI double to left center by Brian Stinson.
In the bottom half of the ninth, Calvin Graves was plunked by an 0-2 pitch from Marra to get the lead runner on for Franklin Pierce before Dan Hennigan hit into a fielder's choice. Kemp then grounded into a double play to end it.
Marra was named the championship's Most Outstanding Player for his efforts in helping lead the Dolphins to the title after they lost their first game of Championship Weekend on Friday to Saint Anselm College.
Dunn got the win after throwing two scoreless innings in relief of freshman starter Ryan Davis, who surrendered just one run on four hits in four innings.
Redmond had a three-hit performance for the Dolphins while Speicher scored twice and also drove in two.
2012 All-Championship Team
Joey Royer, New Haven
Tito Lluberes, Saint Anselm
James Roche, Franklin Pierce
Matt Walsh, Franklin Pierce
Pat Wiese, Le Moyne
Vincent Redmond, Le Moyne
Matt Marra, Le Moyne
Most Outstanding Player – Matt Marra
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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