Emmitsburg, Md. (April 11, 2008)--Mount St. Mary's rallied for four runs in the ninth inning to defeated Central Connecticut State, 9-8, in Northeast Conference baseball action on Friday afternoon. The Mount's Ryan Murray was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to for home Shane Eyler with the winning run.

The Mount (5-19, 3-1 NEC) trailed 8-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth in the first game of the four-game series. Kyle Kane opened the final frame with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Ryan Stamp's pinch-hit single. Lyle Kralle pinch ran for Stamp and moved to second on Matt Staso's base hit. With one out, Eyler singled up the middle to load the bases for freshman Zach Helman, who lifted a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 8-7. Drew Counselman then ripped a double down the third-base line to score Staso with the tying run.

With runners at second and third with two outs, Central Connecticut State (9-12, 4-1 NEC) chose to intentionally walk the Mount's leading hitter, Josh Vittek, to face Murray. Murray was then hit by a pitch to force home the winning run.

The Mount jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the game with two runs in the second and one in the fourth. In the second, Staso doubled to right center to score Kane while Matt Eiden's RBI single gave the Mount a 2-0 lead. Murray belted a solo home run in the fourth to give the Mount a 3-0 lead.

The Blue Devils responded quickly when Tommy Meade hit a grand slam to right field in the top of the fifth to give CCSU a 4-3 advantage. A single by Casey Walko and two walks loaded the bases for Meade, who connected for his team-leading second home run.

The Mount answered in the back-and-forth affair with two runs in the bottom of the fifth when Vittek singled up the middle to plate Helman and Counselman. CCSU's Sean Parker knotted the game at 5-5 when he blasted a solo home run in the top of the sixth.

The Blue Devils took the lead in the eighth when Sean Allaire snigled to score pinch runner Brett Rosenblum. The Blue Devils added two more runs in the ninth for an 8-5 lead. Anthony Scialdone reached on an error and stole second base. With two outs, Meade singled to score Scialdone to give CCSU a 7-5 lead. Pinch hitter Scott Intravaia then looped a ball to center field when the Mount's Shane Eyler tried to make a diving catch. Eyler came up with the ball, but not the catch, and Meade, who was running on the play with two outs, scored all the way from first base.

Reliever Mike Matta allowed three runs (one earned) in three innings to earn the victory for the Mount on the mound. Starter Max Brittenham allowed five runs with four strikeouts in six innings. Chris Chagnon was tagged with the loss, allowing two runs in 0.2 innings. CCSU starter Derek Roberts allowed five runs (three earned) in five innings while reliever Donny White allowed a pair of runs in three innings of work.

Eyler, Counselman, Staso and Eiden each had two hits to pace the Mount offense. Walko, Scialdone, Meade, Kyle Zarotney and Allair all had two hits apiece for the Blue Devils. Meade finished the game with five RBI.

The two teams will meet tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at noon at Straw Family Stadium on campus.