Blackbirds Sweep Conference Doubleheader at CCSU |
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(Game
1 - boxscore)
Junior Mike Maynard (Staten Island, N.Y.) pitched a complete game shutout in game one, going seven innings and allowing just two hits while striking out three. Maynard did not allow a runner past second base the entire game. After three scoreless innings, LIU got on the board with an unearned run in the fourth. Sophomore Danny Pirillo (Marlboro, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Tim Doherty (Newark, Del.). CCSU looked to tie in the bottom half of the frame, as a double by Sean Salvatore and a walk to third baseman Matt Memoli put runners at first and second with one out. Maynard was able to work out of trouble by forcing a flyout to center and getting Scott Appleton on a called strike three to end the inning. The righthander mowed down 11 straight Blue Devils to finish the game and preserve the victory. Doherty drove in the Blackbirds other run in the sixth on another sacrifice fly that scored junior Robbie Rowen (Rosendale, N.Y.), who led off the inning with a double. Long Island used the momentum it created in game one to get off to a fast start in the second game. Four of the first five batters singled in the top of the first, producing a quick 2-0 advantage. Junior James Adamo (Paramus, N.J.) and senior Matt Martino (Staten Island, N.Y.) each drove in a run in the frame. Three errors on the Blackbirds helped manufacture an unearned run for CCSU in the bottom of the inning. Salvatore, who advanced two bases on a throwing error by sophomore Danny Etkin (Brooklyn, N.Y.), came around to score on a single by Memoli and cut the Blue Devils deficit to 2-1. CCSU returned the favor in the fourth, as an errant throw by its first baseman allowed Martino to cross home plate and bumped LIU’s lead to two. After a run in the sixth by the Blue Devils made the score 4-3, a successful suicide squeeze by Pirillo scored sophomore Bryan Burke (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) and again gave LIU a two-run cushion. The eighth and ninth innings provided some tenuous moments for the Blackbirds as CCSU had the tying run on base in each. Senior Pete Orsi (Brooklyn, N.Y.), making his 11th appearance of the season, was able to stem each of the rallies en route to his third save this season. His three saves this season rank fourth on the all-time single-season record chart at LIU. Freshman Kenny Cedel (Staten Island, N.Y.) pitched six strong innings to pick up his second victory of the season. He allowed two earned runs and seven hits while striking out a pair. Durkin ended with a 4-for-5 performance from the plate and also scored twice. LIU faces non-conference opponent NYIT on Tuesday, April 11
in a single game at 3:30 p.m.
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4/9/06 -- Strong pitching and timely hitting helped propel Long
Island University to a Northeast Conference doubleheader sweep
of Central
Connecticut State in collegiate baseball action on Sunday afternoon
in New Britain, Conn. The Blackbirds shutout the Blue Devils,
2-0, in the first game and followed with a 5-3 victory in the
second.