SAVANNAH, Ga. – The LIU Brooklyn baseball team had one of its strongest pitching performances in recent memory Sunday afternoon, as sophomore
Cory Hart had a no-hitter through four innings, and struck out 10 Savannah State batters. But the Blackbirds (3-6) lost the game in heartbreaking fashion, on a Savannah State walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning, 3-2.
Hart's start on the mound was the best by a Blackbird so far this season. The sophomore lefty held the Tigers hitless through four innings, and scoreless for all 6.0 innings of his start. The Tigers would get just two hits off Hart Sunday: singles in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings.
LIU was able to get on the board in the top of the fifth inning. Freshman
William Jackson III led off for LIU, and had a double to right field. He advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an error, putting the Blackbirds up, 1-0.
Savannah State would tie it up in the bottom of the seventh inning, using two singles to tie it up, 1-1. The Tigers took the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning on another RBI single, and led, 2-1 heading into the ninth.
The Blackbirds were able to tie it up in the top of the frame in dramatic fashion. Sophomore
Andrew Turner had a one-out double, and an SSU balk put him on third base. Senior
John Knauth brought him home on a single to center field, knotting the score up, 2-2.
The Tigers took the game in the bottom of the ninth, on a walk-off, two-out RBI single that saw the runner beat the throw home, and Savannah State take the win, 3-2.
Cory Hart had no decision in the start, pitching 6.0 innings and striking out 10, while giving up just two hits. Senior
Vincent Tranchina (0-1) had the loss on the mound for LIU, giving up one run in 1.0 innings.
Freshman
William Jackson III led LIU at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Senior
John Knauth was 1-for-1 with an RBI, while sophomore
Andrew Turner was 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
Up next, the Blackbirds take on Maine in a neutral site game in Florida, Wednesday, March 9 at 6 p.m., before taking on the University of Central Florida in a three-game series next weekend.