NEWBURGH, NY - In a nice bounce back effort, the Mount Saint Mary College baseball team defeated Western Connecticut State University, 10-4, in non-conference action on Thursday night. The Blue Knights improved to 19-4 on the season while the Colonials dropped to 9-11.

In the bottom of the first, Mount Saint Mary strung together six hits for five runs. After a leadoff single from junior Mike Umphlett (North Stonington, Conn.), senior Brian Visconti (Newburgh, N.Y.) ripped a line drive that scooted past the left fielder for an RBI triple. Senior Matthew Germann (Islip, N.Y.) walked before the Colonials' starting pitcher retired the next two batters. With two outs, freshman Dan McCrea (Hicksville, N.Y.) launched a three-run home run to left field to make the score 4-0. Sophomore Billy Casey (Marlboro, N.Y.) singled, moved to third on a double by senior Jim Marsh (Maybrook, N.Y.), and then scored on a single by freshman Max Tecce (Glen Cove, N.Y.).

Mount Saint Mary starting pitcher Justin Murphy (Wallkill, N.Y.) worked four scoreless innings before getting into trouble in the fifth inning. He issued a leadoff walk to sophomore Zack Deandrea (Wanaque, N.J.) and then allowed an RBI single to freshman Kyle Savo (West Haven, Conn.). Junior Sam McNeil (Gales Ferry, Conn.) delivered the knockout blow to Murphy with a two-run triple that made the score 6-3. West Conn junior Dan Amarante (Cheshire, Conn.), now facing Mount senior Michael Redmond (Stone Ridge, N.Y.), singled up the middle to drive home the fourth run of the inning.

The Blue Knights got a run back in the bottom of the sixth as Tecce led off the inning with a double over the left fielder's head. He moved to third on a single by Umphlett and scored on a groundout by Visconti.

Redmond hung up zeroes in the sixth and seventh, allowing one hit and nothing else. He claimed his sixth victory of the season. Freshman Ben Shortslef (Sterling, N.Y.) worked around a leadoff double for a scoreless eighth and junior Chris Gage (Saugerties, N.Y.) closed the door with a scoreless ninth.

Mount Saint Mary picked up some insurance in the eighth, benefiting from two Colonial errors to put up three runs. Sophomore Louis Peisel (Brewster, N.Y.) hit his third home run of the season, crushing a two-out solo shot to left.

Western Connecticut junior starting pitcher Steve Bainer (Prospect, Conn.) put in a gutsy performance and worked through the first seven innings for the Colonials. He allowed just four hits and two runs after a troublesome first inning.

Umphlett, McCrea, and Tecce all finished with two hits for the Mount. Visconti was 1-for-5 with three RBIs.

McNeil was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored to lead the Colonials. Junior Dan Baccaro (Berlin, Conn.) also had two hits.

Up next for the Mount is a Skyline Conference double-header with St. Joseph's College. The games are scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. start on Monday, April 13 in Newburgh.