FISHKILL, N.Y. – Florida-like weather welcomed Mount Saint Mary College back to Dutchess Stadium as the Knights defeated John Jay, 9-5, in the team's first game at the stadium this season.  MSMC is now 7-5 overall, while the Bloodhounds drop to 4-15.

The Knights jumped out to an early lead with four runs in the bottom of the first.  Freshman Alex Velardi (Branford, Conn.) walked, stole second, and then moved to third on a single to left from senior John Conroy (Middletown, N.Y.).  Junior Michael Morelli (Washingtonville, N.Y.) then launched a pitch to the wall in left-center, plating both runners.  Morelli scored when sophomore Vinnie Carminati (Huntington, N.Y.) doubled down the left-field line, and Carminati came around to score on a single to center by sophomore Chris Chieffo (Waterbury, Conn.).

John Jay got on the board in the fourth as senior Stephen Caracena (West New York, N.J.) singled, stole second, and scored on a double down the line from sophomore Ronald Barillas (Ozone Park, N.Y.).  The Bloodhounds added another in the sixth with four straight hits.  With the bases loaded, sophomore Nestor Amarante (New York, N.Y.) singled to center.  Still with the bases loaded and one out, however, MSMC freshman relief pitcher Brandon Lubrano (Mineola, N.Y.) entered the game and induced a 4-4-3 double play to end the inning.

The Knights added one in the seventh, as Morelli scored on a throwing error by the John Jay third baseman.  The Bloodhounds answered, however, putting together a pair of runs in the top of the eighth to make it a 5-4 game.  Caracena scored on an RBI groundout and then freshman Eddie Montanez (Staten Island, N.Y.) drove home a run with a single to left.  With John Jay threatening for more with runners at first and second, junior relief pitcher Joe CoFrancesco (Hamden, Conn.) came on to strike out the final batter of the eighth, preserving the one-run lead.

MSMC blew the game open in the bottom half of the eighth, hanging four runs on the board to take a 9-4 advantage.  A pair of runners came around to score when Velardi singled up the middle and the center fielder airmailed a throw to the plate.  Velardi was able to score as Conroy poked a single to left-center.

CoFrancesco allowed one run in the ninth on a lined singled from Caracena, but limited any further damage.  He struck out the final two batters to finish off a 9-5 victory.

Conroy finished 4-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Carminati went 2-for-3 at the dish with two runs scored and an RBI.  Morelli also added a pair of hits (2-for-5) to go along with a run scored and a pair of RBIs.

For the Bloodhounds, Caracena finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.  Amarante went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs.

Junior starting pitcher Justin Christensen (Carmel, N.Y.) worked the first five-and-a-third innings for the Knights to earn the win, his first of the season.  He allowed nine hits and two earned runs while striking out three.  CoFrancesco, who recorded the final four outs of the ball game, earned the save.

Up next for the Mount is another non-conference game at Dutchess Stadium.  The Knights will host Albertus Magnus tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. in Fishkill.