Long Island Baseball Falls, 6-1, as Sacred Heart Sweeps Series

(Box Score)

4/22/07 -- For the fourth time in as many games, the Long Island University baseball team fell behind early and could not recover as Sacred Heart completed a four-game sweep, handing the Blackbirds a 6-1 loss. Second baseman Dan Pirillo (Marlboro, N.Y.) had two of Long Island’s five hits and third baseman Gerard Tingos (Staten Island, N.Y.) drove in the Blackbirds’ lone run with a fielder’s choice in the top of the second.

Long Island starter Rich Moran (Carmel, N.Y.) lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks. He struck out one batter. The loss dropped Moran to 0-6 on the season.

Moran allowed a pair of runs in the first inning on a one-out double by first baseman Jeff Hansen. The Pioneers plated two more in the second frame on a pair of RBI singles by Steve Tedesco and Jovan Rodriguez. After Moran gave up a two-out RBI single to shortstop Phil Tantillo in the bottom the third, Sacred Heart led 5-1 and Moran was pulled in favor of sophomore Kenny Cedel (Staten Island, N.Y.).

Cedel pitched well in relief, allowing one run on six hits in 5 1/3 innings of work. He fanned six hitters and did not allow a walk. The only run the lefthander gave up came on a two-out double by Rodriguez in the sixth.

Lefty Jared Balbach (1-4) earned the win for Sacred Heart. Balbach went seven innings, allowing just four hits but walking seven. He struck out four Blackbirds.

Long Island falls to 7-24 (2-9 Northeast Conference) while Sacred Heart improves to 17-17 (8-3). The Blackbirds will travel to Lawrenceville, N.J., on Wednesday, April 25, to take on Rider.