Rowen’s Six RBI and Nine-Run Inning Helps Baseball Gain Split at FDU

(game one boxscore) (game two boxscore)

4/24/05 -- Sophomore Robert Rowen (Rosendale, N.Y.) drove in six runs in game one for Long Island, which rolled to a 19-5 Northeast Conference victory over Fairleigh Dickinson before a 7-4 loss in the nightcap in Teaneck, N.J.

The Blackbirds (9-16, 5-9 NEC) in the sixth inning of game one plated nine runs by sending 14 batters to the plate, turning a 5-3 deficit into a commanding 12-5 lead. Rowen delivered the key hit in that span as his two-run double, accompanied by Chris Grabowski’s error in center field, plated three runs to give LIU the lead for good, 6-5.

Nathan Olson (Poland, Maine) laced a two-run double later in the inning and fellow junior Matthew Martino (Staten Island, N.Y.) launched a two-run homer for his first career long ball. The Blackbirds needed just seven hits in the inning and benefited from five errors.

LIU made sure the lead held thanks to a seven-run seventh inning. Junior Sean Durkin (Damascus, Md.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Danny Etkin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had an RBI groundout and fellow freshman Bryan Burke (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) drew a bases-loaded walk. All of this took place before Rowen launched a grand slam to left-center field for his third career long ball.

Carmel, N.Y. sophomore Ryan Ekberg (2-4) provided LIU effective relief, striking out two and permitting just one hit over 2 1/3 scoreless innings. In addition to Olson and Martino, Burke and sophomore Marcus Wynn (Plainfield, N.J.) also closed with two RBI.

Rich Franchesci (1-3) allowed six runs and three hits over 1 2/3 innings for the Knights, who committed nine errors and were only outhit, 12-8.

The Blackbirds were not so fortunate in game two as they came out on the wrong end of the duel between the Bunyan brothers. Senior Brian Bunyan (2-4) gave up five runs – four earned – and eight hits over seven innings for FDU. Junior Matt Bunyan (0-6) struck out six but surrendered seven runs – four earned – and eight hits over six innings for LIU, yielding just two hits over his last four innings.

The Knights (7-19, 5-11) scored seven times over the first two innings for a 7-0 lead. Carmine Vetrano had the only RBI in the three-run first with a single and Jovan Santos capped a four-run second with a two-run homer to center.

LIU refused to go quietly, scoring four in the top of the fourth to close to 7-4. Junior Trey Bell (Georgetown, Del.) had an RBI bunt hit, Martino contributed a run-scoring fielder’s choice and Durkin added a two-run double.

But Brian Bunyan had his way by holding the Blackbirds to just two hits over the last three innings. LIU did send the tying run to the plate in the seventh after Bell’s RBI groundout, but senior Christopher Brescia (Nanuet, N.Y.) struck out to end it.

Wynn had two hits in the opener, but went hitless in the nightcap and had his career-best 13-game hitting streak snapped.

The teams will play the rubber game of their three-game series Monday, beginning at 3:30 pm.