Baseball Splits Doubleheader at Monmouth |
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4/9/05 -- Long Island won the first game, 5-2, and dropped the second contest, 6-4 in eight innings, at Northeast Conference rival Monmouth in West Long Branch, N.J. In the fourth inning of game
one, junior Tim Doherty (Newark, Del.) smashed a grand slam
for
his first
homer
of
the season and a 5-0 Blackbirds lead.
Back-to-back-to-back singles from juniors Sean Durkin (Damascus,
Md.) and Matt Martino (Staten Island, N.Y.), and senior Christopher
Brescia (Nanuet, N.Y.) loaded the bases. LIU (5-10, 2-3) scored first in the top of the third as sophomore Robert Rowen (Rosendale, N.Y.) singled to left to plate freshman Bryan Burke (Lindenhurst, N.Y.). Staten Island, N.Y. sophomore Michael Maynard (2-2) got the victory, allowing two runs and three hits with one walk and five strikeouts over seven innings. Martino and Doherty each went 2-for-3 and scored a run. Joe Cummings (1-3) suffered the loss, tossing 5 1/3 innings and allowing five runs on nine hits with five strikeouts. In the second contest, the Blackbirds again scored first in the third inning as sophomore Marcus Wynn (Plainfield, N.J.) singled to right field to bring home freshman Danny Etkin (Brooklyn, N.Y.). The lead opened to 3-0 lead in the fifth as Wynn singled through the left side to plate Brescia. Rowen followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Burke. Monmouth rallied in the bottom of the fifth to knot the game, 3-3. Weres and Brett Hardie belted back-to-back home runs to open the inning and Mike Hussa hit a two-out double to score Kyle Higgins. In the sixth, Brescia knocked in junior Nathan Olson (Poland, Maine) on a single to center for a 4-3 Blackbirds advantage. The Hawks responded in the bottom of the frame as Hardie laced a two-out RBI single up the middle. LIU had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the seventh as it loaded the bases with none out. But Kevin Schneider was clutch on the mound for Monmouth, striking out junior Trey Bell (Georgetown, Del.), Olson and Durkin to get out of the jam. The Hawks made it worthwhile in the bottom of the eighth. Hardie lined a one-out single and Andy Meyers followed with a game-winning two-run homer to center. Schneider (2-0) tossed 2 1/3 innings, allowing no runs and three hits with five strikeouts. Brescia (0-1) pitched 1 2/3 frames, surrendering two runs and three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. The teams will play the rubber game Sunday at 12:00 pm. |
