Hofstra Comes Back to Defeat Baseball, 10-9

(Box Score)

5/9/07 -- The Long Island University baseball team squandered a 9-0 third-inning lead and fell to Hofstra, 10-9, when a throwing error allowed the Pride to score the winning run. With the score tied 9-9 in the bottom of the ninth senior Robby Rowen (Rosendale, N.Y.) came on to pitch and his first offering hit pinch-hitter Dion Pouncil. Matt Prokopowicz followed with a grounder up the middle, just out of the reach of second baseman Trey Bell (Georgetown, Del.), putting runners on first and second. With Matt Kougasian at the plate attempting a sacrifice bunt, catcher Danny Etkin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tried to pick Prokopowicz off at first, but his throw sailed away and pinch-runner Patrick Rogers scored easily giving the Blackbirds their fifth consecutive loss in conspicuous fashion.

Long Island (9-33) built the 9-0 lead with a pair of big innings. The Blackbirds plated three in the first on a two-run double by designated hitter Orlando Cruz (White Plains, N.Y.) and an RBI single by shortstop Greg DeSantis (Bridgewater, N.J.). Cruz hit another RBI double in the second to give Long Island a 4-0 advantage.

Freshman centerfielder Johnnie Neckar (Fort Myers, Fla.) stroked an RBI double to bring in the first of five third-inning runs for Long Island. Etkin followed with a run-scoring single and two batters later Rowen drove in two more with a double, knocking Hofstra starter John Furhman out of the game. Ryan Dunn came on in relief in an effort to stop the bleeding, but gave up an RBI single to first baseman James Jones (Brooklyn, N.Y.), making the score 9-0.

Long Island starter Jesse Johnson (Dingmans Ferry, Pa.) allowed a pair of runs in the bottom of the third on three hits and three more in the fourth on three more hits. The freshman lefthander pitched well enough to win, giving up five runs in five innings on eight hits and one walk. Johnson struck out two.

Lefty Kenny Cedel (Staten Island, N.Y.) came on in relief and pitched a scoreless sixth before finding trouble in the seventh. He allowed three runs on a single by Tom Legregni and a two-run double by Prokopowicz. Righthander John Dooley (Deer Park, N.Y.) entered the game with two outs and got Andrew Campana to strike out. Dooley allowed the game-tying home run to Nick Panzarella to lead off the eighth.

The Blackbirds will travel to Teaneck, N.J., for a four-game series with Fairleigh Dickinson, beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 11.