Sauter Salvages Split in Doubleheader at Monmouth

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

4/14/07 -- After dropping the first game of the day, 4-2, the Long Island University baseball team, led by the strong pitching effort of freshman Adam Sauter (Perry Hall, Md.), defeated Monmouth in the second game, 4-1, to split a Northeast Conference doubleheader.

The Blackbirds (7-19, 2-5 NEC) used a four-run fifth inning to jump ahead of the Hawks (18-11-1, 4-3). With two outs, centerfielder Johnny Neckar (Fort Myers, Fla.) doubled down the left-field line and came around to score on leftfielder Marcus Wynn’s (Plainview, N.J.) single. Wynn advanced to second on a throwing error by Monmouth starter Brett Brach and moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Second baseman Trey Bell (Georgetown, Del.) drove in Wynn with a single to center. Bell stole second and rightfielder Robbie Rowen (Rosendale, N.Y.) drew a walk before a wild pitch moved Bell to third. Designated hitter Orlando Cruz (White Plains, N.Y.) followed with a two-run double to left center to put Long Island on top, 4-0.

Sauter pitched well, allowing just one run in five-plus innings of work while striking out three Hawks. He scattered five hits before running into trouble in the sixth. The lefthander loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk. Second baseman Chris Collazo hit an infield single to score Monmouth’s only run of the game. Sophomore Kenny Cedel (Staten Island, N.Y.) came on in relief and worked out of the jam, inducing a fly out and striking out the next two hitters. Rowen came on in the seventh to pick up his second save of the season.

Sauter (1-2) picked up his first career victory. He allowed just the one run on eight hits and three walks while striking out three. Brach (1-3) took the loss for Monmouth, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk.

In the first game, the Blackbirds fell behind early as starter Mike Maynard (Staten Island, N.Y.) allowed a run in each of the first two innings. With one out in the first inning, rightfielder Kyle Messineo singled and advanced to second on a wild pickoff attempt by Maynard. First baseman Andy Myers followed with a single to score Messineo. In the second frame, leftfielder Brett Holland hit a one-out single and moved to second on a passed ball. Catcher John Dennis then singled to bring Holland home and give the Hawks a 2-0 advantage. Maynard gave up another run in the fourth on an RBI single by Messineo.

Long Island got on the board in the fifth when Cruz stroked a one-out single to left center to score third baseman Gerard Tingos (Staten Island, N.Y.). Monmouth struck back in the sixth, with Messineo again causing the damage. This time he doubled to bring home a run and knock Maynard out of the game with the Blackbirds trailing, 4-1.

Long Island scored a run off closer Justin Esposito in the seventh when Bell scored on a wild pitch with two outs. Esposito got Wynn to pop up to end the game and pick up his third save of the season.

Maynard (2-2) picked up the loss, allowing four runs on nine hits and three walks. He struck out four in 5 2/3 innings. Ryan Buch (5-0) earned the win for Monmouth, giving up just one run in 4 2/3 innings. He allowed six hits and two walks while fanning five.

The teams will wrap up their four-game series on Sunday, April 15, at noon.