Blackbirds Suffer Doubleheader Sweep by Wagner

(Box Score - Game 1)
(Box Score - Game 2)

4/6/07 -- The Long Island University baseball team dropped a pair of games to conference rival Wagner at a chilly LIU Field. The Blackbirds fell by a 5-1 margin in the first game and lost 8-5 in the second game of the double dip.

Long Island (5-16, 0-3 Northeast Conference) struggled against Wagner starter Joe Testa in the first game. The Blackbirds mustered only three hits: a double by third baseman Gerard Tingos (Staten Island, N.Y.) and singles by freshman James Jones (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and sophomore Frank DiMasi (Staten Island, N.Y.). Testa went the full seven innings, allowing only one unearned run in the seventh when Long Island catcher Chris Kievit (Wayne, N.J.) drove in a run when he grounded out to first base.

Blackbirds senior starter Rich Moran (Carmel, N.Y.) ran into trouble early, allowing three runs in the first frame. With a runner on second and one out, Moran served up a home run to Wagner third baseman Vin Avella. After a single to Matt Mastrianni, designated hitter Ed Sudol singled him home to put Wagner (7-15, 3-0) up 3-0. Mastrianni and second baseman Pete Delleani each hit RBI singles in the fifth to increase the Seahawk lead to 5-0.

Moran (0-5) allowed seven hits and five runs in five innings of work. He walked two and struck out four. Testa (1-3) struck out six Blackbirds and walked two.

In the second game, Long Island starter Mike Maynard (Staten Island, N.Y.) gave up four runs over five innings to spot Wagner a 4-0 cushion. In the third, the Seahawks got on the board with an RBI triple from shortstop Joey DiGeronimo and a run-scoring groundout by Delleani. Wagner also plated a pair in the fifth when Avella hit an RBI double and Sudol brought home a run with a groundout. Maynard lasted five innings, allowing six hits, four runs (two earned) and three walks while striking out four.

The Blackbirds battled back to tie with a four-run fifth. With no outs and runners on second and third after a James Adamo (Paramus, N.J.) double, catcher Danny Etkin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) ripped a single to score a pair of runs. Long Island loaded the bases and Wagner starter Bobby Tretola was able to get the first out of the inning when shortstop Greg DeSantis (Bridgewater, N.J.) grounded into a fielder’s choice to second, scoring Etkin. Jones followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home leftfielder Anthony Amatucci (Toms River, N.J.) and tie the game, 4-4.

After rightfielder Robbie Rowen (Rosendale, N.Y.) reached on an error to put runners on first and second, Tretola was pulled in favor of Buddy Cipoletti. After hitting Marcus Wynn (Plainfield, N.J.) with his first pitch, Cipoletti got Trey Bell (Georgetown, Del.) to fly out and end the inning, stranding three runners.

Jones came on to pitch the sixth and he was greeted by Wagner catcher Chris Drechsel, who launched a ball over the fence in left to put Wagner ahead for good, 5-4. The Seahawks added three runs in the seventh on another homer by Avella and a two-run double by Drechsel. The Blackbirds plated a run in the final frame when, with Bell on second with two outs, Adamo reached on a throwing error by Delleani.

Jones (1-2) was saddled with the loss, allowing four runs in two innings. He struck out four.

Long Island will look to avoid a series sweep on Saturday, April 7, with the first pitch scheduled for noon.