Blackbirds Drop Sixth Straight; Lose Two to Columbia

(boxscore - Game 1)
(boxscore - Game 2)

4/29/06 -- Long Island University was swept in a non-conference road doubleheader by Columbia on Saturday afternoon in collegiate baseball action.

Sophomore Danny Etkin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had four hits on the day for the Blackbirds. Senior Pete Orsi (Brooklyn, N.Y.) pitched a scoreless ninth in game two and recorded his 18th appearance of the season, which ties him with James Stroub (1995) for the all-time single season appearance record at LIU.

A strong pitching performance by Columbia's Nick Oleksak was the difference in game one. The senior took a shutout into the seventh en route to his third victory of the season. Long Island finally got on the board in the seventh as a leadoff single by Etkin was followed by a double from freshman outfielder Anthony Amatucci (Toms River, N.J.) to put runners on second and third with no one out.

After a walk loaded the bases, another free pass to sophomore Danny Pirillo (Marlboro, N.Y.) brought Etkin in to score and cut LIU's deficit to 5-1. An RBI groundout by senior Sean Durkin (Damascus, Md.) tallied the Blackbirds' second run but it was all that they could muster as reliever John Baumann got the final two outs of the contest.

In game one, the Blackbirds jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first frame and had an opportunity to do even more damage. Junior Marcus Wynn (Plainfield, N.J.) led off the game with double down the left field line. Pirillo then moved Wynn to third with a sacrifice bunt. Durkin was hit by a pitch to place runners on the corners with one out.

Following a pop out to the shortstop, junior Robbie Rowen (Rosendale, N.Y.) drove home Wynn with an opposite field single. Senior Matt Martino (Staten Island, N.Y.) subsequently singled up the middle. With the bases loaded and another run already in thanks to a passed ball, Columbia hurler Bill Purdy enduced a groundout to end the inning, stranding three men.

Runners left on base would be a problem all game long as the Blackbirds left 14 men on, including nine in scoring position.

Columbia answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half and followed with four more in the third to take command of the contest. Marc Gold led the Lions offense with three hits and a pair of runs batted in.

Freshman Kenny Cedel (Staten Island, N.Y.) suffered the loss in game two, while junior Rich Moran (Carmel, N.Y.) dropped to 2-8 on the season in game one.

The Blackbirds look to snap their six-game skid on Sunday, April 30 as they play host to Columbia at 1:00 p.m.