(Box
Score)
 5/1/05
-- Long
Island University dropped the finale of its three-game Northeast
Conference
series, 5-4 against Central Connecticut State at LIU Field.
Junior Trey Bell (Georgetown,
Del.) went 3-for-4 at the plate for the Blackbirds (11-19,
7-11 NEC). Juniors Matthew Martino
(Staten Island, N.Y.) and Nate Olson (Poland, Maine) added a
pair each.
The teams combined for just two hits in the first two innings.
The Blue Devils (14-23, 7-11) had their biggest threat in
the next frame. Junior Seth Brown singled up the middle in the
third as Garrett Walker attempted to come around from second
and score. Freshman center fielder Bryan Burke (Lindenhurst,
N.Y.) delivered a perfect relay to Danny Etkin (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
at the plate for the
inning’s third out. It was Burke’s sixth outfield
assist of the season.
CCSU opened the scoring in the fourth inning. With runners on
first and third base and two outs, junior Brent Currier ripped
a triple into left center for a 2-0 lead. Dan Tarnowski and Brown
followed with RBI singles for a 4-0 advantage.
The Blackbirds responded in the bottom half, scoring three runs
on four hits. Bell drilled a double, his second of the afternoon,
down the right field line to open the inning and scored two batters
later on an RBI double by Martino.
Following a single up the middle from Olson, Etkin
connected on a full-count pitch for a double into right to score
Martino. A sacrifice fly from Sean Durkin (Damascus, Md.) pulled
the Blackbirds to 4-3.
The Blue Devils left seven runners stranded over the next four
innings before adding a run for cushion in the ninth on a solo
home run from Tom Pezzello, his second of the season.
Martino commenced the ninth with a double into left center. Pinch
runner Daniel Pirillo scored on a single from Olson to move the
Blackbirds to 5-4. Etkin advanced Olson to second on a sacrifice
bunt but the threat ended there. Durkin struck out and Marcus
Wynn grounded out to third to close the contest.
Both pitchers threw complete games. Adam Piechowski (2-3) struck
out six and permitted four runs and 10 hits for the Blue Devils.
Belle Harbor, N.Y. native Matthew Bunyan (0-7) struck out four
for the Blackbirds and allowed 13 hits.
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