Offense Erupts as Blackbirds Pound Peacocks, 19-2

(Box Score)

5/1/07 -- The bats came alive as the Long Island University baseball team came two hits shy of the school record for hits in a game, drubbing Saint Peter’s, 19-2, in non-conference action. The Blackbirds recorded 27 hits with every player in the lineup getting at least one hit, including pinch hitter Anthony Amatucci (Toms River, N.J.), who hit a grand slam in the ninth inning.

The Blackbirds (9-28) got on the board in the top of the first when second baseman Trey Bell (Georgetown, Del.) hit a two-run home run to right center. The Peacocks answered back with a run off starter Jesse Johnson (Dingmans Ferry, Pa.) in the bottom of the inning when third baseman Dave Lewandoski stroked an RBI double to cut the Long Island lead to 2-1.

Long Island tacked on another run in the fourth. Centerfielder Johnnie Neckar (Fort Myers, Fla.) hit a one-out single and moved to third on catcher Danny Etkin’s (Brooklyn, N.Y.) single. Neckar came around to score when third baseman Dan Pirillo (Marlboro, N.Y.) singled to put the Blackbirds up, 3-1.

The Blackbirds added three more runs in the sixth inning. Shortstop Greg DeSantis (Bridgewater, N.J.) led off with a single which chased Saint Peter’s starter Adam Myers. Reliever Stephen Spitaleri was greeted by Neckar, who laid down a bunt and avoided the tag attempt by first baseman Joe Romano. After a balk moved the runners to second and third, Etkin ripped a single up the middle to score DeSantis and move Neckar to third. Pirillo came up next and hit a grounder to third, but Lewandoski’s throw was wide, allowing Neckar to score. Pirillo made a slight turn toward second base and was tagged by the first baseman. Pirillo was initially ruled safe, but was called out when the call was challenged. Bell followed with a run-scoring double for his third RBI of the game. Bell went 4-for-5.

Johnson (1-2) pitched six innings for his first collegiate victory. He allowed one run on four hits and three walks while striking out three batters.

Long Island increased its lead to 7-1 in the seventh after back-to-back doubles by first baseman James Jones (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and DeSantis. Conor Mullee’s RBI double in the bottom of the inning plated a run for the Peacocks, but the Blackbirds responded with six more in the eighth to make it 13-2.

Bell hit a leadoff single and scored after rightfielder Robby Rowen (Rosendale, N.Y.) doubled and the throw into second was booted. Leftfielder Marcus Wynn (Plainfield, N.J.) followed with a double to score Rowen. Designated hitter Orlando Cruz (White Plains, N.Y.) then hit a single to plate Wynn. Jones followed with a ground-rule double and later scored on DeSantis’ RBI groundout. Neckar then gave the Blackbirds a 11-run cushion with his fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot.

Long Island continued its hot hitting in the ninth when Wynn and DeSantis hit RBI singles and increase the lead to 15-2. Amatucci provided the icing on the cake with a grand slam to put Saint Peter’s in a 19-2 hole. It was the first home run of his career.

The Blackbirds’ team record of 29 hits in a game occurred twice: against Columbia in 1984 and against Saint Joseph’s in 1994.

Long Island will return home to host Mount St. Mary’s in a four-game Northeast Conference series, beginning on Friday, May 4 at 3:00 p.m.