Yaphank, N.Y. – The College of Mount Saint Vincent Baseball team was dealt a 14-3 defeat on Wednesday afternoon by Western Connecticut in its home opener. The Dolphins collected just four hits

Mount Saint Vincent head coach Steve Macias.

for the second straight game, but Mike Ruckdaschel (East Meadow, N.Y.) connected on a three-run home run for the Dolphins.

The Colonials wasted little time getting on the board Wednesday. After Mount Saint Vincent starter Mike Trainor (Patterson, N.Y.) retired the lead-off man, Western Connecticut strung together back-to-back singles, before Dan Baccaro connected on a three-run blast to put the visitors up 3-0 after a half inning.

Western Connecticut would continue to show its power, as leadoff man Sam McNeil connected on a two-run home run in the second, before Matt Perper and Michael Baccaro went deep in the third inning.

After Colonial starter Billy Armstrong fanned the first seven batters he saw, the Dolphins struck for three runs in the third. After  back-to-back walks and a fielder's choice, Ruckdaschel connect to pull the Mount to within 7-3 with six at-bats left.

The Western Connecticut offense would prove to be too much however, as it would put an eighth run on the board in the fourth inning and then explode for six more runs in the top half of the seventh. After the home run to get the Mount on the board, the Dolphins would manage just five base runners the rest of the contest.

Armstrong picked up the win, by going 5.0 strong innings, allowing just the one hit resulting in three earned runs. He fanned 11 and walked three. Four relievers combined to keep the Mount scoreless over their next four frames, allowing just three base hits.

Trainor (0-1) took the loss for the Dolphins. He worked just 2.2 innings, allowing seven hits and seven earned runs. Jeff Martin (West Babylon, N.Y.) worked an effective final 2.0 innings, allowing just one hit.

McNeil and Perper each collected three hits for the visitors, with each crossing with three runs and finishing with three RBI. Dan Baccaro went 3-5 in the tilt and added a run scored and five driven in.

The loss drops Mount Saint Vincent to 0-2 on the season. The Dolphins will be back in action again tomorrow afternoon when they travel to #4 Kean. First pitch with the Cougars is set for 3:00 p.m.