Durkin's RBI Single Gives Blackbirds Third Straight Win over Rider |
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With the game tied at 5-5 in the ninth, junior Bryan Burke (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) led off the inning with a bunt single. After sophomore Danny Pirillo (Marlboro, N.Y.) bunted him to third, Durkin singled to left to plate Burke and vault the Blackbirds in front. An error on the play by the shortstop moved Durkin to third and pinch hitter Matt Martino (Staten Island, N.Y.) followed with a sacrifice fly to give LIU a two-run cushion. The Broncs would threaten in the ninth, as two base hits put runners on first and second with one out. Senior Pete Orsi (Brooklyn, N.Y.), who picked up his second consecutive save, got a fly out to right and a grounder to Pirillo at second base to end the game. After Rider scored an unearned run in the first, the Blackbirds scored two unearned runs of their own to take a 2-1 advantage. The two teams combined for 12 total errors and seven unearned runs in the mistake-prone contest. LIU, much like its last contest with St. Peter’s, trailed by two heading into the sixth but was able to rally. Two walks to junior Orlando Cruz (White Plains, N.Y.) and Orsi put the tying runs on base with one out. Junior Marcus Wynn (Plainfield, N.J.) stepped up and ripped a double to left that scored Cruz. Burke knotted the game a batter later with a sac fly to center. Junior Rich Moran (Carmel, N.Y.) picked up his first victory of the season (1-4) in relief. Freshman John Massoni (Staten Island, N.Y.) turned in the best starting performance of his career on the mound, allowing two earned runs over six innings. The Blackbirds are back in action on Saturday, Apr. 1 with a doubleheader against preseason Northeast Conference favorite Monmouth. The games are scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.
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3/29/06 -- Senior
Sean Durkin (Damascus, Md.) drove home the game-winning run
in the top of the ninth
inning as the Long Island University baseball team won its third
consecutive contest, a 7-5 decision at Rider on Wednesday afternoon.