Leicester, Mass.- The Hawks of Becker College rallied to defeat the Mountaineers of Southern Vermont 8-5 in New England Collegiate Conference baseball action Friday afternoon at Rochdale Park.

Southern Vermont jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. After Jarod Hayen (Esperance, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch and Corey D. Briggs (Wood River, R.I.) reach on a walk, senior Pat Warrington (Folcroft, Pa.) drove both runners in with a double into the left centerfield gap. After cleanup hitter Dillion Desiderato (Burlington, Conn.) earned a walk, Cody Labadia (Howes Caves, N.Y.) roped a double into left centerfield, plating Warrington and Desiderato.

The Hawks scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning when Mike Marcello (West Haven, Conn.) scored from third on an error by the Mountaineers second baseman, making the score 4-1

The score remained the same until the bottom of the sixth inning when Weston Meehan (Thomson, Ga.) smashed homerun to left field, cutting the Mountaineers lead to 4-2.

In the bottom of the seventh inning Todd Tompkins (West Haven, Conn.) reached base with a single up the middle. After Tompkins stole second base, senior Joe Corey (Billerica, Mass.) singled up the middle, tying the game at 4-4.

Becker completed their comeback in the bottom of the eighth inning when Todd Tompkins cleared the bases with a grand slam over the leftfield fence, giving the Hawks an 8-4 lead.

The Mountaineers refused to go down quietly in the top of the ninth. Freshman Sal Sciara (Massapequa, N.Y.) led off the inning with a solo blast to leftfield. With the bases loaded and one out, Becker freshman pitcher Keon Jenkins (Nashua, N.H.) got Pat Warrington top pop out to short for the second out. The next batter Dillion Desiderato ripped a ball that appeared to be heading through the right side of the infield, but it stuck Corey D. Briggs in the leg, ending the game.

Southern Vermont relief pitcher Joel DeFedele (North Kingston, R.I.) took the loss after allowing five runs in a third of an inning. Starter Connor Murray (Litchfield, Conn.) pitched well for the Mountaineers, allowing three runs on five hits in seven innings of work. The loss drops Southern Vermont to 4-20 overall and 1-6 in the NECC.

Junior southpaw Joe Spero (Glastonbury, Conn.) earned the win after allowing one run on three hits in two and a third innings of work. Keon Jenkins earned his first collegiate save after recording the final two outs of the game. After a rough first inning, Becker starter Mike Schoen (Yorktown, N.Y.) settled down, keeping the Mountaineers off the board in his final five innings on the mound. The win lifts the Hawks to 12-9 overall and 7-3 in league play.