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score)
3/30/07 -– The Long Island University
baseball team opened its four-game series at Longwood with
an 8-3 loss. The Lancers scored four runs in the bottom of
the sixth inning to take away a victory in a back-and-forth
game. Senior Robbie Rowen (Rosendale, N.Y) and freshman James
Jones (Brooklyn, N.Y.) each went 2-for-4 and drove in a run
as the Blackbirds dropped to 3-11.
Blackbirds opened the scoring in the top of the fourth. Rowen
led off with a single and advanced to third on fellow senior
Orlando Cruz’s (White Plains, N.Y.) double. Jones,
the reigning Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week, followed
with a single to drive in Rowen and move Cruz to third. After
Jones advanced to second on a passed ball, sophomore Frank
DiMasi (Staten Island, N.Y.) lofted a sacrifice fly to right
field to score Cruz and give Long Island a 2-0 lead.
Longwood (22-9) answered back in the bottom of the fifth,
scoring a pair of runs to tie the game. With one out and
runners on second and third, Lancers centerfielder Tyler
Ames grounded out to second baseman Trey Bell (Georgetown,
Del.) and brought home Topher Ellis. Jon Quigley then drew
a walk to put runners on the corners. With Tyler Childress
at the plate, Ellis took off for second and beat the throw,
allowing Robbie Bailey to take home. Childress would strike
out to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth, Jones led off with a single and
DiMasi moved him over to second with a bunt. Longwood starter
Kevin Light got Bell to fly out, but that would be the last
batter he faced. John Walker II relieved him and promptly
gave up a run-scoring single to junior catcher Danny Etkin
(Brooklyn, N.Y.) to put the Blackbirds back on top, 3-2.
Long Island starter Kenny Cedel (Staten Island, N.Y.) ran
into trouble in the home half of the fifth. With one out
and runners on first and second, he gave up a two-run double
down the right field line to Paul Heidler II. With the Lancers
back on top, Cedel was pulled in favor of senior John Dooley
(Deer Park, N.Y.). After Heidler stole third, he came around
to score on a fielder’s choice by Ellis. Bailey followed
with a bunt single and Dooley loaded the bases with a walk
and a hit batsman. Dooley then unfurled a wild pitch, allowing
Bailey to score and give Longwood a 6-3 lead.
The Lancers added two more runs in the seventh on a home
run by Rusty Smith.
Cedel dropped to 0-2 with the loss. In 5 1/3 innings, he
gave up five runs, five hits and three walks while striking
out six hitters.
The Blackbirds will continue their four-game series with
Longwood on Saturday, March 31 with a doubleheader. The first
game is slated for a noon start.
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