NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – The LIU Brooklyn baseball team fell to Central Connecticut State twice Saturday afternoon, in a Northeast Conference road doubleheader, 3-1 and 4-1. With the losses, LIU moves to 11-24 overall, and 5-8 in NEC play. The two teams conclude the series with a final nine-inning game, Sunday, April 24 at 1 p.m.

CCSU 3, LIU 1
In the first game of the day, CCSU got on the board early, scoring a run in the bottom of the first frame. A one-out single, followed by another, and the home team had a runner in scoring position. A sacrifice fly allowed the first run of the day to score, and CCSU led, 1-0. The Blue Devils would add two more runs in the bottom of the second. Two walks and a sacrifice bunt had two runners in scoring position for CCSU, and after an intentional walk, a fielder's choice scored the first run. An RBI single brought home the next, and CCSU led, 3-0.

LIU got on the board in the top of the third inning; junior Charles Misiano led off with a walk, and was advanced by freshman Luis Arias de los Santos's sacrifice bunt. A throwing error by CCSU on the play allowed Misiano to score from second, and the Blackbirds were on the board, 3-1. But neither team would score again, as the two starting pitchers were able to retire their opponents from there on out, giving CCSU the win, 3-1.

Senior Brian Drapeau had a strong start for LIU, holding CCSU to just four hits for the day, taking the loss after 4.2 innings of work. Freshman Mike Kreiger was once again outstanding in relief, pitching 1.1 hitless innings against the Blue Devils. CCSU's Andrew Hinckley (5-3) held LIU to just two hits in 7.0 innings, striking out eight.

CCSU 4, LIU 1
In the second game of the day, CCSU once again went up first. In the bottom of the third inning, with two outs, a walk and two singles scored a run, giving the home team the 1-0 advantage. LIU was able to answer right away, however. In the top of the fourth, freshman Kyle Ruth had a one-out single to left field. Sophomore Andrew Turner moved him to third with a long single to center field, and the Blackbirds had a runner just 90 feet from home. Ruth would score on a wild pitch, tying the game up, 1-1.

CCSU wouldn't go up again until the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, two extra base hits scored a run, and a walk put another runner on base. A single to left field would bring two more runs home, and the Blue Devils led, 4-1.

LIU threatened in the top of the seventh inning, loading the bases with two outs, with the winning run at the plate, but CCSU's defense was able to get the third and final out, taking the sweep with a 4-1 victory.

Sophomore Cory Hart (2-3) had the loss on the mound, despite seven strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched.
 
The two teams conclude the series Sunday, April 24, with a nine-inning game slated to begin at 1 p.m.