Boxscore
Farmingdale, N.Y. – Senior Mike Pope (Massapequa, N.Y.) led eight Mount Saint Vincent players with at least two hits after going 3-for-7 with a pair of RBI, including the game winner as the Dolphins ousted top seeded St. Joseph's-L.I. in 12 innings in the Skyline Conference Baseball Tournament by a score of 9-8. Brian Rush (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) earned the win after working 6.0 innings in relief.
After falling behind 7-4 following a four run fifth inning for St. Joseph's, the Dolphins strung together five straight hits with two outs in the sixth to push across two runs and slice their deficit to two runs at 7-6
The Golden Eagles tacked on a run in the seventh when Brian Hannigan scored on a wild pitch to push the top seed in the tournament ahead 8-6. Mount Saint Vincent battled back with two runs to tie the score in the bottom of the inning when Vinny Todino (Eastchester, N.Y.) and Christian Lavery (Westbury, N.Y.) picked up back-to-back two out, run scoring singles.
The two teams went scoreless until the Dolphins broke through with two outs in the 12th frame. The Dolphins had the winning run in scoring position in their last four at-bats before Pope shot a sharp line drive over short to push John McManus (Queens, N.Y.) home with the game winning tally.
The first four hitters in the Mount Saint Vincent lineup combined to go 9-for-24 with four runs scored and six RBI and the bottom third of the lineup finished 6-for-15 with three RBI and four runs scored. Josh Sharpe (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) went 2-for-6 and opened the game with a triple.
Todino wrapped up the game 2-for-5 with a pair of runs and two RBI, while James Labartino (Holbrook, N.Y.) went 2-for-5 with a run scored and a pair driven in. Lavery and Benjamin Toro, Jr. (Yonkers, N.Y.) also finished the game with a pair of hits.
Rush came on and allowed just one hit in 6.0 innings to go along with a pair of strikeouts in earning the win. Mount Saint Vincent starter Mike McManus (Queens, N.Y.) worked the first 4.2 and allowed seven earned runs on eight hits. He struck out eight St. Joseph batters and walked just one.
St. Joseph's was led by Rich Pecoraro who went 3-for-6 with a double to go along with two runs scored and a pair of RBI. Brian Hannigan was the only other Golden Eagle player with more then one hit after going 2-for-4 with two runs.
The win pushes Mount Saint Vincent to 16-22 overall on the season. The Dolphins will take on fifth seeded Old Westbury starting at approximately 5:00 p.m. The winner of that game will advance on to play Farmingdale St. Sunday afternoon.
