FAIRFAX, Va. – The LIU Brooklyn baseball team had its weekend schedule rearranged due to weather this weekend, and the Blackbirds took on George Mason in a doubleheader that was originally supposed to be two games played over two games. The Blackbirds and the Patriots split, with the home team winning the opener, 9-8, and LIU taking game two, 11-2.

George Mason 8, LIU Brooklyn 8
In the first game of the day, LIU took a late lead in the seventh inning, scoring six runs to go up, before the Patriots would add one run in the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings to take the win on a walk-off.

George Mason opened scoring Friday afternoon with back to back singles in the bottom of the first inning. A balk would score one run, and an RBI groundout put the home team up, 2-0. The Patriots added a third run in the bottom of the second, on a walk and a double that would score one run on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.

The Blackbirds started to come back in the top of the third frame. With one out, senior Brian Lamboy got on base with a single up the middle, and junior Tommy Jakubowski had a double to put two runners in scoring position for LIU. Sophomore Dom Paiotti took advantage, notching a one-out single to right field that would score both runners and cut the gap to 3-2.

George Mason added a run in the fourth on a two-out home run, and then widened the gap in the fifth inning. A two RBI triple, followed by a sacrifice fly, and the Patriots had widened the lead to 7-2.

The Blackbirds rallied in the top of the seventh to take the lead. Two batters walked to lead off, and junior Charles Misiano had a single to load the bases. Lamboy was hit by a pitch to earn an RBI, and in the next at bat, Jakubowski had a double to right field to score two more runs. Paiotti would once again come in clutch for the Blackbirds in his next at bat, with a long single to center field that tied the game up, 7-7. LIU went up two outs later, when freshman Luis Arias de los Santos singled to bring Paiotti home, and put LIU up, 8-7.

The Blackbirds were able to hold George Mason off for an inning, but the Patriots would tie it up in the bottom of the eight. A double and a sacrifice fly scored the tying run, and in the bottom of the ninth, the home team would score the go-ahead run on a double and an RBI walk-off single.

Senior Brian Drapeau (0-2) had the loss on the mound for LIU. Paiotti led the Blackbirds at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored.

LIU 11, George Mason 2
In the second game of the day, the Blackbirds scored 11 runs on 15 hits, and started right from the top. In the first inning, Jakubowski had a one out single and stole second. Paiotti brought him home with a single to center field for his fifth RBI of the day, putting Liu on the board, 1-0. George Mason tied it up in the bottom of the frame with a double and an RBI single, and the game was knotted, 1-1 heading into the second.

Junior Harrison Preschel opened the inning in style, with a lead-off home run to put the Blackbirds back on top, 2-1. The scoring would continue for LIU in the fourth inning. Preschel led off with a single, and Arias and senior Luis Rios had back-to-back singles to load the bases. A George Mason error would score two runs, and then another run two batters later. Jakubowski would single to score one more, putting the Blackbirds up, 6-1.

LIU had another scoring surge in the top of the seventh. Paiotti led off with a single, and junior Mark Hernandez was walked. Preschel had a double to score one run, and Rios reached on an error to score one more. Junior Anthony Capo had an RBI single to left field, and Lamboy brought another run home on his single to center field, putting the Blackbirds up, 11-1.

George Mason would add one more run in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Blackbirds were able to get the final out, and take the win over the Patriots, 11-2.
Sophomore Baylor La Pointe (2-2) had the win for LIU on the mound, as he pitched 8.0 innings, holding George Mason to just three hits and one earned run, while striking out eight. Junior Matt Ornstein closed the game for the Blackbirds, giving up one hit and one run in 1.0 innings of work.

Preschel led the team at the plate, going 4-for-6 with two RBI and three runs scored. Jakubowski went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, while Paiotti went 2-for-5 with an RBI and Lamboy had two RBI for LIU.

Up next, the Blackbirds take on George Mason in the series finale, a rescheduled game that has been moved up to 10 a.m., Saturday, March 19.