Baseball Shutout Against LIU in Series Opener

The Central Connecticut baseball team fell in the series opener to LIU Brooklyn, 2-0, on Friday afternoon at CCSU Baseball Field. Seniors Matt Martinez and Corey Lerche each collected two hits for the Blue Devils, but Baylor LaPointe only allowed six hits on the day to get the complete-game shutout for LIU.

CCSU slips to 15-21 overall and 7-10 in Northeast Conference play, while LIU improves to 11-22 overall and 5-6 in the NEC.

The Blackbirds loaded the bases in the top of the first, but senior Casey Brown worked out of the jam without allowing a run. LIU came back in the top of the fourth to break through and score the game's first run. Kyle Ruth was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a two-out double by Joe Mercadante. Charles Misiano followed with a hit up the middle to drive in Ruth and make it 1-0. A diving stop by sophomore Dean Lockery kept the ball in play and cut down Mercadante at home plate to end the inning.

The game was suspended due to a lightning delay with two outs in the top of the sixth inning. Before play stopped, Harrison Preschel had doubled and Andrew Turner walked to put runners in scoring position for LIU. Following an almost 30-minute delay, Mercadante hit a two-out single into left field to drive in Preschel and make it 2-0.

The Blue Devils scraped together back-to-back singles in the ninth inning with two outs to threaten the LIU lead. Lerche and sophomore Nick Garland recorded base hits to put runners on first and second, but LaPointe got a game-ending strikeout to complete the win.

Martinez went 2-for-3 at the plate on the day and was the only Blue Devil to reach third base when he got there with two outs in the third inning. Lerche also had a double and single on the day.

Brown threw 7.0 innings and allowed two runs on nine hits. He struck out five and walked one.

LaPointe improved to 4-5 on the season after scattering six hits over 9.0 innings. He walked just one batter, while striking out four.

The Blackbirds finished with 11 hits as a team. Mercadante and Misiano each had two hits and drove in a run to pace the LIU lineup.

The Blue Devils and Blackbirds continue the series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. The games will both be seven innings.