Box Score

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. - Sophomore Connor Johnson threw 5.0 shutout innings and freshman third baseman Brock Kauffman had four hits, but Le Moyne scored 10 runs over the final four innings for an 11-6 win over East Stroudsburg University in the 2018 baseball season opener for both schools on Friday afternoon.

Johnson, who tied ESU's freshman wins  record (five) last year and made 19 appearances (six starts), blanked Le Moyne for the first five frames, allowing four hits with three strikeouts and four walks.

Kauffman's four hits included three doubles in his ESU debut. He drove in the game's first run in the fifth inning, and added another RBI in the ninth.

In between, Le Moyne scored two runs in the sixth inning and three in the seventh to take a 5-1 lead, then added six in the ninth.

The Warriors answered with five runs in the bottom half, including a three-run homer by sophomore SS Joey Paolini.

Josiah Gray, Le Moyne's closer (10 saves, 22 strikeouts, 2 walks, 1 run in 141 innings) last year, went 4.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

Redshirt sophomore 1B Tom Nuneviller drew a leadoff walk off Gray in the fifth, stole second and scored on Kauffman's one-out double.

Gray was relieved by Joe Vail, who picked up the win with 3.2 innings of scoreless work (2 hits, 5 strikeouts, 2 walks).

The Dolphins took the lead in the sixth, with a solo homer by Brian O'Mara and a walk, stolen base and RBI single by Brian Cox.

Le Moyne made it 5-1 in the seventh with a leadoff single, four walks and an ESU error.

In the ninth, catcher Camillo Spinoso (2-for-4, 2 walks) capped a six-run inning with a three-run homer.

Kauffman had an RBI double, Paolini hit a three-run homer and junior OF Zarley Cina hit a solo homer in his ESU debut in the Warriors' half of the ninth.

Le Moyne, which was 28-16 last year and 27-17 in 2016, had eight of its 12 hits and 15 of its 23 baserunners in the final four innings.

Kauffman's 4-for-4 day (3 doubles, 2 RBI) led an 11-hit offense for ESU. Nuneviller reached twice with a single and a walk, and senior 1B Laine Renaud had a double.

ESU takes on Saint Anselm in a doubleheader on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.