Baseball Surges by LIU on Friday

The Central Connecticut baseball team used a six-run seventh inning to take the series-opener, 9-4, at LIU on Friday in Northeast Conference action in Brookville, NY. Dominic Niman tossed an efficient 8.0 innings to earn the win, while Jeff Nicol and Joe Rios each hit home runs in the victory.

The Blue Devils and Sharks play again on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE

Score: CCSU 9, LIU 4
Pitching Record: W: Niman (9-2) |  L: Huertas (5-5) | Sv: - -
Records: CCSU (28-10, 21-4 NEC), LIU (17-29, 15-10 NEC)
Location: LIU Baseball Stadium | Brookville, NY

KEY MOMENTS

• The Sharks had just one runner reach base through the opening three innings but Seth Surrett drew a walk to lead off the fourth. Following a fielder's choice and with one runner on base, JC Navarro recorded LIU's first hit of the day with a two-run homer to center field to make it 2-0.
• The Blue Devils would get one run back in the top of the fifth inning. Derek Haughey led off with a double down the line in right field. After Michael Torniero was hit by a pitch and Jimmy Sullivan loaded the bases with nobody out, Elliot Good put the ball in play to push across a run, but a double play would limit the damage in the inning.
• In the top of the sixth with two outs, Joe Rios hit a two-run homer to right field to tie the game, 2-2.
• CCSU would surge ahead in the seventh inning with six runs, all coming with two outs. With two runners on and two outs, Aidan Redahan would poke a 0-2 pitch into right field to drive in a run and break the tie and an error on the play allowed another run to score. Rios followed with a two-run single to make it 6-2. Jeff Nicol followed with a home run to left field to make it 8-2 and forcing a pitching change.
• That would be more than enough support for Dominic Niman, who allowed just one hit and three runners to reach base after the fourth inning and he would leave after eight innings. LIU got two runs on a homerun by Carlton Harper in the ninth, but Luke Garofalo would retire the final to hitters to end the game.

NOTES

• The Blue Devils own a 52-32 edge in the all-time series and ended LIU's streak of four consecutive wins in the series.
• Niman tied the program mark for single-season victories with Adam Poturnicki (1999), Barry Hertzler (2003), Scott Vitelli (2004), Matt Gianini (2006), and Andrew Braun (2021).
• Niman allowed just two runs on three hits, while striking out four and walking one in 8.0 innings of work.
• Five Blue Devils had at least two hits, led by Sullivan's 3-for-4 day. He has hit safely in 10 straight games.
• Nicol added two hits and three RBIs.

UP NEXT

The Blue Devils and Sharks play again on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

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