LIU Drops 11-6 Decision to St. Joe's

3/18/06 --The Long Island University baseball team dropped its seventh straight game, 11-6, at Saint Joseph’s on Saturday afternoon in Norristown, Pa.

After falling behind 4-0, the Blackbirds mounted a comeback in the sixth inning. Sophomore Dan Pirillo (Marlboro, N.Y.) led off the frame with a double down the left field line. After senior Sean Durkin (Damascus, Md.) was hit by a pitch, a sacrifice bunt by junior Bryan Burke moved runners to second and third with one out.

Junior Robert Rowen (Rosendale, N.Y.) continued his hot hitting, driving in both runners on a line drive single to right field. Junior Orlando Cruz (White Plains, N.Y.) followed with a two-run home run, his first of the season, to tie the game at 4-4.

St. Joe’s came back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring four runs to take control of the game. Mike Blahusch had the big hit in the inning for the Hawks, scoring two runs on a single through the left side.

LIU again tried to scratch its way back, as a leadoff walk to Durkin began the eighth inning. Burke followed with a triple over the rightfielder’s head to cut the deficit to 10-5. A fielder’s choice by Rowen pushed Burke across the plate for the Blackbirds final tally of the afternoon.

Don Werner picked up the victory for Saint Joseph’s, allowing four runs and five hits over six innings. Junior Rich Moran (Carmel, N.Y.) fell to 0-3 on the season.

Burke finished with two hits for LIU, who fell to 1-8-1 on the season.

The Blackbirds finish up their trip to Philadelphia, Pa. with a meeting with Villanova at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, Mar. 19.