DELAND, FLA. – The LIU Brooklyn baseball team dropped another late-inning heartbreaker Wednesday afternoon in a neutral site game with the University of Maine. The Blackbirds (3-7) fell to the Black Bears, 3-2, on an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Maine got on the board in the bottom of the first inning, on a two-out home run. LIU was able to answer in the top of the third inning, scoring two runs to take the lead. Junior Charles Misiano led off getting hit by a pitch, and advanced to third on a groundout and a single from sophomore Dom Paiotti. Junior Tommy Jakubowski brought both base runners home with his two-out RBI double to put LIU up, 2-1.

Maine would make it 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, when an error prolonged the inning, and a double scored the tying run. Another unearned run would give the Black Bears the win in the bottom of the eighth. After a lead-off walk, a sacrifice bunt turned into a run scored when the throw went wide, and Maine led, 3-2.

The Blackbirds gave Maine a run for their money in the bottom of the ninth, when freshman Kyle Ruth walked with one out. Sophomore Andrew Turner pinch ran for him and stole second to get into scoring position, but Maine's pitcher was able to strike out the next two LIU batters to end the inning and the game, assuring the Black Bear's win.

Freshman Antony Rupp had a strong start for the Blackbirds, giving up just one earned run in 7.0 innings of work, and striking out five. Junior Nick Freijomil (0-1) had the loss on the mound, despite holding the Black Bears hitless in the final inning. Junior Tommy Jakubowski led LIU with a double, two RBI and two stolen bases.

Up next, the Blackbirds travel to take on Central Florida in a three-game series, Friday, March 11 to Sunday, March 13.