2025 Skyline Conference Baseball Championship - Double-Elimination
Game 1: (3) Farmingdale State - 6, (1) Merchant Marine - 1
Game 2: (3) Farmingdale State - 2, (1) Merchant Marine - 1
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

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KINGS POINT, N.Y. | The third-seeded Farmingdale State College baseball team swept top-seeded Merchant Marine on Sunday afternoon to claim the 2025 Skyline Conference Championship. The Rams opened with a 6-1 victory in game one behind a dominant complete game from junior right-hander Derek Watts (Baldwin, N.Y.) to force a deciding second game. FSC took game two by a 2-1 score after a clutch, pinch-hit RBI single from senior Chris McGuggart (Bethpage, N.Y.) in the bottom of the eighth inning. 

The Championship marks Farmingdale State's ninth Skyline title and first since 2019. With the win, the Rams earn the conference's automatic bid into the 2025 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship. NCAA regional play begins next weekend, with the tournament field and bracket to be announced during an online selection show on NCAA.com Monday, May 12th at 12 p.m.

Senior pitcher and third baseman Tyler DiRocco (Commack, N.Y.) was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Championship after throwing 6.2 innings in the decisive game and collecting eight hits throughout the tournament.

Game 1

With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the third inning of game one, the Rams (26-14) got on the board first after a successful squeeze bunt by junior second baseman Christian Villacci (Smithtown, N.Y.). 

In the fourth, freshman shortstop Kaolis Delacruz (Levittown, N.Y.) singled home junior center fielder Mike Kocovic (Mahopac, N.Y.) before senior first baseman Jordan Lambert (Plainview, N.Y.) produced an RBI groundout to score junior right fielder Richie Heyder (Holbrook, N.Y.), giving FSC a 3-0 lead.

Farmingdale State increased their lead to 5-0 in the seventh as singles by Villacci, Kocovic, DiRocco and Heyder led to two more runs.

FSC took a 6-0 lead in the eighth after senior left fielder Matthew Flood (Islip, N.Y.) hit a double and quickly scored on a single by Villacci.

Watts (W, 7-1, CG, 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 3 SO) allowed an unearned run in the ninth, but finished off his third career complete game to clinch the 6-1 victory for Farmingdale State.

Delacruz led FSC with four hits and an RBI, while Heyder tallied three hits, a walk and one run scored. DiRocco, Flood and Villacci (2 RBI) each contributed two hits in the win as they forced a deciding second game.

Game 2

The Rams struck first in game two as Heyder singled, stole second and scored on a base hit by Lambert to go up 1-0.

Merchant Marine (28-15) tied it in the fifth after a two-out fielding error allowed a run to score.

Both teams had chances in the sixth and seventh innings, but neither could break the tie.

In the bottom of the eighth with two outs, Flood hit a towering fly ball down the right field line that dropped off the fielder's glove for a triple. McGuggart then pinch-hit and, after falling behind 0-2 in the count, lined the go-ahead single to bring in Flood and give the Rams a 2-1 lead.

Senior Johnny Dougherty (Kings Park, N.Y. - Sv, 2) came on in the ninth and retired the side in order to earn the save and clinch the Skyline Conference title for FSC.

Lambert finished 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while Flood added two hits, a triple and the winning run. 

DiRocco tossed 6.2 innings on the mound before moving to third base and catching the game's final out. He threw over 130 pitches, allowing just four hits and no earned runs. Sophomore Dennis Kelly (North Babylon, N.Y. - W, 4-3) earned the win in relief, recording four critical outs before Dougherty closed it out.

The Rams now await their NCAA Tournament opponent, which will be revealed Monday (May 12) at noon on NCAA.com.