Murphy Goes the Distance in Baseball's 2-1 Victory over Amherst

Auburn, NY| Junior Joseph Murphy retired eight batters in a complete-game effort as the St. Joseph's College (L.I.) baseball team defeat Amherst College, 2-1, at the NCAA New York Regional on Friday afternoon.

The Golden Eagles (27-17), now 1-1 in the double-elimination tournament, advance to play the loser of Friday's contest between SUNY Cortland and Swarthmore College on Saturday morning.

The Mammoths (24-14) suffer their second loss of the tournament and see their 2018 season come to an end.

Murphy (6-1) allowed five hits in his second-straight complete-game. The hurler went the distance in a 7-1 victory over Farmingdale State in the Skyline Conference Championship tournament on May 5.

Junior Anthony Raucci (1-for-3) opened the contest with a lead-off triple down the right field line and two batters later junior Paul Britt (0-for-3) sent the shortstop home with a sac fly to center to give SJC a 1-0 lead in the top of the first for the second-straight day.

The Mammoths answered in the bottom half of the inning when Ariel Kenney (1-for-4) scored Max Steinhorn (1-for-4) from third with an RBI single through the left side(1-1).

The Golden Eagles reestablished their one-run lead in the top of the second when junior Michael Ferrufino (1-for-4), who got one with a double to left center, advanced home after a wild pitch and an error by the Amherst catcher (2-1).

From there Murphy limited the Mammoths to just four hits and guided St. Joseph's to its second NCAA regional victory in program history. In 2016, SJC defeated Johns Hopkins 3-0 at the Mideast Regional.

Should the Golden Eagles defeat either host Cortland or Swarthmore at 10:00 am on Saturday they would also play the nightcap at 7:45 pm. With a 1-1 record, SJC must win all its remaining games in order to be crowned regional champion.