Blackbirds Drop First Game in Palm Beach Challenge

3/11/06 -– The Long Island University baseball team
dropped its opening game of the Papa John’s Palm Beach Challenge to Seton Hall, 9-0, on Saturday afternoon in Lantana, Fla.

Pirates pitcher Dan Merklinger tossed a two-hit complete game shutout,walking seven while striking out 12.

Junior Robbie Rowen and senior Sean Durkin tallied a hit apiece for the Blackbirds.

After Seton Hall scratched a run home in the first, LIU threatened in the bottom half of the frame. A walk to Matt Martino and a sharp single by Rowen gave the team runners on first and second with one out.

SHU catcher Bobby Dombrowski, in his first career start, smothered a pitch by Merklinger in the dirt and caught Rowen straying too far off first base for the second out of the inning. Martino advanced to third, and a walk to James Adamo gave the Blackbirds runners on the corners. Merklinger then ended the scoring chance by striking out Bryan Burke.

In the fifth, the Pirates scored two more runs after Matt Smedberg reached on a base-on-balls, and Cohen singled two at-bats later to drive him across the plate. With two outs, Dan McDonald drove in Cohen on a double to left field to put the Pirates up 3-0.

Two three-run homers by Dombrowski and Mike Young off freshman John Massoni broke the game open in the eighth as the Pirates cruised to the victory.

Junior Rich Moran took the loss for the Blackbirds, allowing two earned runs over five innings. Junior John Dooley, pitching in his first game in two years, pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

LIU continues play in Lathana, Fla. on Sunday, Mar. 12 against St.Bonaventure at 3:00 p.m.