DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (April 24, 2008) - A six-run fourth inning was enough more than enough offensive support for Keith Karlsen (Farmingdale, N.Y.), who limited the Mavericks to only three runs, as the Pioneers rolled to an 8-3 victory over Mercy College on Thursday afternoon in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

The Pioneers improve to 22-20 overall on the season, and 14-7 in the ECC, while Mercy drops to 10-26 and 6-14 in the ECC.

Both teams traded zeros on the board until the top of the fourth, when sophomore Bryan Bonin (Commack, N.Y.) singled advanced to second on an error by the right fielder. Junior Kyle Walker (Wantagh, N.Y.) ripped a home run to right field, giving the Pioneers a 2-0 lead. Junior Brian Anderson (Nesconset, N.Y.) singled, and one batter later, junior Brue Testa (Glen Cove, N.Y.) singled to right field, advancing Anderson to third. An RBI groundout plated Anderson, and a walk to senior Steve Algarroba. Senior Tim Sylvester (Farmingdale, N.Y.) singled, and senior Mike Sylvester (Farmingdale, N.Y.) walked, driving in another run and pushing the score to 4-0. With the bases loaded, Bonin singled for the second time in the inning, driving in two more runs.

Karlsen allowed two Mercy runs in the fifth and another in the seventh, but the Pioneers scored two more insurance runs in the ninth, and senior Anthony Rinaldi (Levittown, N.Y.) pitched a scoreless ninth, earning the save for C.W. Post.

Walker went 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored, Bonin went 2-for-5 with two RBI, and Testa had two hits in the win. Karlsen picked up his first win of the season, throwing 6.2 innings, allowing seven hits while striking out a season-high nine batters. 

The Pioneers return home tomorrow, as they host New Haven at 3:30 p.m. for an East Coast Conference game.