NEWBURGH, NY – Sophomore Louis Peisel (Brewster, N.Y.) singled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Mount Saint Mary College baseball team rallied for an 8-7, non-conference victory over the College of Staten Island on Thursday night. The Blue Knights improved to 21-5 overall while the Dolphins dropped to 11-14.

Trailing 7-6 headed into the bottom of the ninth, freshman Max Tecce (Glen Cove, N.Y.) singled to lead off the inning. Junior Mike Umphlett (North Stonington, Conn.) drew a walk and then senior Brian Visconti (Newburgh, N.Y.) reached on a sacrifice bunt as Staten Island failed to get the runner at third. With the bases loaded, senior Matthew Germann (Islip, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch to bring home the tying run. The next batter, Peisel, crushed a 3-1 pitch to the wall to bring home the game-winning run.

The game only reached the bottom of the ninth after a two-run rally by Staten Island in the top of the inning. Sophomore Patrick Gale (Staten Island, N.Y.) reached on an error to lead off the inning, but junior pitcher Chris Gage (Saugerties, N.Y.) recorded the next two outs. Junior Thomas DeWaters (Staten Island, N.Y.) kept the game alive with a single, bringing sophomore Ryan Nemoyten (Staten Island, N.Y.) to the dish. Nemoyten singled to right field, allowing Gale to score the tying run from second. DeWaters took advantage of an error by the right fielder and also scored on the play to give the Dolphins the lead.

The Blue Knights sent nine batters to the plate in the third inning and scored three runs. Umphlett, Visconti, and Germann recorded consecutive singles with the hits by Visconti and Germann scoring runs. Freshman Brian McNoble (Lynbrook, N.Y.) also singled in the inning, driving home the third run of the frame.

The Mount also scored single runs in the second, fourth, and fifth innings and carried a 6-1 lead into the seventh inning. The Dolphins used two walks and three singles to plate four runs in the top half of the seventh, making it a one-run ball game.

Gage was credited with the win. Senior Jon Reyes (Staten Island, N.Y.) took the loss for the College of Staten Island.

McNoble recorded three hits in four at-bats, scored and run and drove home another. Germann was 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBIs. Visconti was 2-for-4 with two runs score and an RBI. Peisel finished 2-for-5 with a run scored and the game-winning RBI.

Gale went 2-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI for Staten Island. Nemoyten, after pinch-hitting in the seventh, was 2-for-2 with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI.

The Blue Knights return to Skyline Conference action this weekend with a pair of double-headers. They'll host Purchase College on Saturday, beginning at 1:00 p.m., and the College of Mount Saint Vincent on Sunday at noon.