Middlebury picked up its second NCAA Tournament win as they pounded out 21 hits on their way to a 14-4 win over Salem State. The Panthers return to action on Friday when they take on Southern Maine at 3:30 p.m.
Middlebury struck for three in the second as the offense exploded for six hits in the inning. Joe Ramoin led off with a double before he was plated by a double of his own by Mark Shimrock. Alex Casnocha singled before Shimrock scored on a balk. Nick Lefeber scored Dom DiDomenico later in the inning with a single to left.
Salem answered in the bottom of the inning as they got to Middlebury starter Justin Wright for three runs and three hits, with one unearned run.
Middlebury answered in the top of the third as Noah Walker doubled to center, scoring John Lanahan who had reached on a fielder's choice. Matt Joseph came in to retire Salem State in the bottom of the inning.
The Panthers added to their lead in the top of the fourth, with four runs on a pair of homers. Ryan Armstrong ripped a shot to right center, scoring Lefeber who had walked with one out. Lanahan followed with a single before Ramoin hit a two-run shot to left to make it an 8-3 game.
Middlebury added its ninth run in the fifth as Casnocha singled and later scored on a hit to center by Gabe Broughton. The lead grew to 10-3 in the sixth when Ramoin tripled and later scored on a single to left by Casnocha, his third of the game. Salem State struck for a run in the seventh on a groundout.
Middlebury answered in the eighth as Ramoin scored on a fog-aided double to center by Casnocha. The game was delayed for 55 minutes following the play, due to heavy fog. Walker also scored in the inning on a wild pitch, while Broughton plated Casnocha with a single to left. The runs continued with two outs as Ryan Armstrong drove in DiDomenico with a fielder's choice, ending the inning with a 14-4 advantage. Gary Roosa came in to pitch a perfect eighth and ninth inning to seal the win.
Joseph earned the win in relief, allowing one earned run and striking out three over five innings of work. Ramoin had a huge day at the plate for the Panthers, hitting for the cycle and reaching the plate five times. Armstrong was a triple shy of the cycle, going 4-5 with three driven in. Casnocha ended the night 4-6, with two RBI, while Broughton was 3-6 with a pair driven in.
The meeting was just the second between the schools, with Middlebury avenging a loss in the '99 ECAC Tournament.
