Prime Pitching Prevails as Blackbirds Sweep Twin Bill with CCSU

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

5/19/07 -- Blackbirds starting pitchers Kenny Cedel (Staten Island, N.Y.) and Mike Maynard (Staten Island, N.Y.) turned in masterful performances on the mound as the Long Island University baseball team swept a doubleheader with Central Connecticut State at a rainy LIU Field. Cedel was the star of the first game, hurling a three-hit, complete-game shutout as the Blackbirds won, 1-0. Maynard pitched six strong innings in game two to lead Long Island to a 4-2 victory.

Cedel allowed a pair of hits in the second inning of game one, the first of which was erased when Central Connecticut rightfielder Jak Kidd took too wide of a turn rounding second after a double and was gunned down. Kidd doubled again in the fourth inning, but that would be the last hit that Cedel would give up. The sophomore lefthander retired 10 of the next 11 to close out the game. In seven innings, Cedel (3-8) allowed just the three hits and one walk while striking out six.

The Blackbirds got on the board in the bottom of the sixth after second baseman Trey Bell (Georgetown, Del.) singled with one out. With two outs, Bell stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Rightfielder Robby Rowen (Rosendale, N.Y.) followed with a single to drive in the winning run.

Central Connecticut’s Matt Gianini (3-6) also pitched a complete game, allowing one run on four hits over six innings. He struck out nine.

In the second game, the Long Island offense used the long ball to come alive early. Bell was hit by a pitch to lead off the home half of the first and moved to second on a single by Rowen. Centerfielder Marcus Wynn (Plainfield, N.J.) then smacked a ball high off the facing of the building that lies just beyond the right-field fence for a three-run home run. It was Wynn’s second homer of the season.

The Blackbirds tacked on another run when catcher Danny Etkin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) belted a solo shot way over the wall in left-center field for his first career home run.

Maynard cruised through the first two innings before hitting a bump in the road in the third. With two outs and the bases loaded, catcher Adam Taha singled up the middle to plate a pair of runs. Wynn appeared to have the second runner gunned down at the plate, but the umpire ruled that B.K. McLaughlin beat the throw.

Maynard loaded the bases again with two outs in the sixth on three straight singles. He then got a big strikeout of second baseman Matt Memoli to get out of the inning, but left the game clutching his elbow. Rowen came on to pitch the seventh for his fourth save of the season.

Maynard (4-3) allowed just two runs on eight hits and three walks in six innings of work. He fanned eight batters. Blue Devils starter Adam Piechowski went the distance, allowing four runs on seven hits over six innings. He struck out nine.

Long Island improved to 15-35 (9-17 Northeast Conference), while Central Connecticut fell to 23-23 (14-13). The teams will wrap up their four-game series, as well as the regular season, on Sunday, May 20, at noon.