Skyline Conference Baseball Championship
(3) Farmingdale State - 2, (2) St. Joseph's-Long Island - 1
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
PATCHOGUE, N.Y. | Trailing 1-0 with one runner on in the top of the ninth inning, junior right fielder
Richie Heyder (Holbrook, N.Y.) hit a game-winning, two-run home run over the left field fence to propel the Farmingdale State baseball team to a 2-1 victory at St. Joseph's-Long Island on Thursday. The third-seeded Rams have advanced to Saturday's winner's bracket game in the Skyline Conference's double-elimination tournament and will take on top-seeded Merchant Marine. The loser's bracket game will eliminate either second-seeded St. Joe's-LI or No. 4 Mount Saint Mary College before the third game of the day will determine who will play for the Championship on Sunday. All remaining games are scheduled to be played at Merchant Marine.
Senior pitcher
Johnny Dougherty (Kings Park, N.Y. - W, 4-3) tossed eight innings for Farmingdale State, allowing just one run and striking out nine batters, to earn the victory. Senior third baseman and closerÂ
Tyler DiRocco (Commack, N.Y. - Sv, 5) entered for the bottom half of the ninth and secured his fifth save of the season to clinch the 2-1 victory for FSC.
The Rams were held to just four hits heading into the ninth inning when sophomore
Aiden Mehmel (Mastic Beach, N.Y.) led off with a pinch-hit walk to set up Heyder's game-winning home run.
DiRocco and senior first baseman
Jordan Lambert (Plainview, N.Y.) finished with two hits each, while
Kaolis Delacruz (Levittown, N.Y.) and
Christian Villacci (Smithtown, N.Y.) contributed one hit apiece in the win.
St. Joseph's-Long Island senior pitcher Joe Kelly took the loss, tossing eight innings with seven strike outs.
HEYDER GAME-WINNING HOME RUN
