Box Score
Box Score

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – The Farmingdale State baseball team hit two home runs including a grand slam on its way to defeating 15th-ranked Rensselaer, 13-9, in NCAA Tournament action. With the win, the Rams improve to 29-15 and force a regional final, tomorrow afternoon (3pm). The Red Hawks move to 37-12 overall.

Three extra-base hits by Rensselaer in the bottom of the first put the home side up 3-0. A triple from Josh Brooks (Lake Katrine, NY/Kingston) was followed by a run-scoring double by Patrick Reardon (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute). Camden Mamigonian (Dover, NH/Dover) then homered for the second time in as many games to put RPI up 3-0. The two runs batted in gave Mamigonian 60 for the season, setting a school record.

Junior Frank Yera (Manhattan, NY/Grand Street Campus) hit a grand slam to cap a six-run top of the second inning to give the Rams a 6-3 lead. RPI got one run back in the bottom of the inning, thanks to a Rams error and an RBI-single by Sean Wilkes (Troy, NY/Catholic Central).

Farmingdale extended its lead to 10-4 with a four-run top of the fourth. Junior Mike Labrozzi (Sag Harbor, NY/Pierson) came through with a two-run double, before Don Moscatelli (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) drove in two more with a base-hit.

The Rams tacked on one more run in the sixth to make it 11-4. Senior Brian Benvenuto (Dix Hills, NY/Hills West) doubled and came around to score on a single by Moscatelli.

After the visitors scored two for a nine-run lead (13-4) in the top on the ninth, the Red Hawks put together a five-run rally in the bottom of the inning, but Rams closer Billy Garofalo (Patchogue, NY/Patchogue-Medford) was able to get the strikeout to end the game. Freshman Chris Phelan (Patchogue, NY/Patchogue-Medford) picked up the victory on the hill, surrendering four runs (3 earned) on 10 hits over 7.0 innings. He struck out five, without a walk.

Yera finished 4 for 5 with a home run, three runs scored and four runs batted in. Benvenuto went 3 for 5 with three runs and an RBI. Moscatelli ended up 3 for 6 with three RBI. RPI was led offensively by Mamigonian, who went 2 for 5 with a home run and two RBI. Reardon and Tom Jebb (Ticonderoga, NY/Ticonderoga) each had a run scored and an RBI.

Tomorrow's final is scheduled for a 3pm first pitch with the winner earning a spot in the NCAA Division III College World Series in Appleton, WI. The game will be broadcast live on 91.5 FM, WRPI as well as online at www.wrpi.org. Live stats will also be available at http://livestats.prestosports.com/farmingdale/.