March 15, 2009
BSB: DOLPHINS WIN SLUGFEST, 12-9, OVER TROY AS BOTSFORD RECORDS
FIVE HITS
Troy, Ala. - Freshman centerfielder Brett Botsford
(Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) went 5-for-6 with two
runs batted in and three runs scored to lead the Le Moyne College
baseball team to a 12-9 win over Troy University in the series
finale on Sunday afternoon at Riddle-Pace Field.
Following a 50-minute rain delay, the Dolphins scored twice in the
top of the first inning and added a third run in the second inning.
Botsford opened the contest with a single to left center. After
senior shortstop Matt Nandin (North Syracuse,
N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) laid down a successful
sacrifice bunt to move Botsford to second, junior leftfielder
Chris Edmondson (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City)
blasted a home run down the right field line. With two outs in the
second, freshman second baseman Ryan Mahoney (Clay,
N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) doubled down the left field
line. Following a hit batsman, Botsford singled through the
right side to plate Mahoney from second.
Troy evened the score with a pair of runs in the second and a run
in the third. Brett Henry led off the second with an infield single
and following a pitching change and a fly out, Blake Martz drilled
a two-run homer to left field. In the third, Chad Watson opened the
frame with a single up the middle. On a failed pickoff attempt,
Watson moved to third and scored on a groundout by J.R. Myers.
The Dolphins regained the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth
inning. Junior catcher Rich Brown (Vestal,
N.Y./Vestal) opened the inning with a single to third
base, moved to second on a sac bunt by Mahoney and advanced to
third on a wild pitch. After freshman right fielder Matthew
Ciraco (White Plains, N.Y./Perkiomen School) walked and
stole second, Botsford singled through the right side to drive in
Brown. Nandin followed with a single of his own through the right
side to plate Ciraco.
The Trojans got one run back in the bottom of the frame before
taking the lead with two runs in the fifth inning. They loaded the
bases in the fourth on two singles and a walk before Shohei Fujita
lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Daryl Otwell from
third. In the fifth inning, Michael Precise led off with a double
to left center and Ryan Ditthardt followed with a homer to left
center.
Le Moyne answered back with four runs on four hits in the top of
the sixth inning to take a 9-6 lead. Mahoney led off the frame with
his first career home run. The Dolphins then loaded the bases on a
single by Botsford, a walk to Nandin and Edmondson reached on a
fielder's choice. Senior first baseman Chris Haynes
(Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) plated Botsford as he
reached on a fielder's choice. Junior designated hitter
Sean Paino (Wappinger Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham)
followed with a single up the middle to deliver Nandin, while
Haynes later scored on a wild pitch.
Troy knotted the contest for the final time with a trio of runs in
the bottom of the sixth. Fujita singled with one out and Watson
followed with a walk before each moved up 90 feet on a sac bunt by
Myers. Precise then lined a double to left center to plate Fujita
and Watson. Following the third pitching change of the game by the
Dolphins, Ditthardt greeted freshman Derek Zielinski
(Schenectady, N.Y./Colonie) with a single up the middle to
drive in Precise.
The Dolphins scored three times in the seventh inning to take the
lead for good. Brown walked to open the inning and following an
out, sophomore Don Schaaf (Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood) singled to
left field. As Botsford reached on a fielder's choice, Brown scored
from second as the pitcher threw the ball away. Nandin then singled
up the middle to drive in Schaaf and Botsford tallied the final run
on a wild pitch.
Zielinski picked up the win for the Dolphins after recording one
out in the sixth inning. Junior southpaw Tom McDermott
(Amsterdam, N.Y./Amsterdam) picked up his second save of
the season by tossing a perfect ninth inning. Nandin and Mahoney
joined Botsford joined Botsford with multiple hits, while Brown and
Mahoney scored multiple times. Drew Hull, who won the first game of
the series, suffered the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) in
just an inning of work.
Le Moyne (3-10), which snapped a seven-game losing streak with the
victory, return to action with a four-game series at Stony Brook
beginning on Saturday, March 21 at 12:00 p.m.
-agate-
Le Moyne 12, Troy
9
Le Moyne
(3-10)
210 204
300
-
12
15 1
Troy
(11-6)
021 123
000
-
9
16 2
Le Moyne (3-10): Luke Nellis, Erik Lambe (2), Mark Kuzma (4),
Derek Zielinski (6, W, 1-1), Al Ondrako (7), Tom McDermott (9, S,
2) and Rich Brown.
Troy (11-6): Tim Wheeler, Jeff Green (5), Drew Hull (7, L, 1-1),
Chris Sorce (8) and Blake Martz, Steven Felix (8).
