BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn baseball team will host Northeast Conference and inter-city rival Wagner this weekend, in a four-game series with an altered weekend schedule. Originally scheduled in the traditional NEC format, inclement weather has caused the two teams to move at least one game. Friday, April 8, the two teams will play a doubleheader, with a moved up start time of 12 p.m. Saturday and Sunday's schedule are still TBA.
SCHEDULE AND MATCH-UPS
Live Stats | Live Video
Friday, April 8 - 12 p.m.
Game 1 (9 inn.) - Junior RHP Austin Goeke (3-1; 2.12 ERA) vs. Sophomore RHP Baylor LaPointe (2-4; 3.57 ERA)
Game 2 (7 inn.) - Senior RHP Mike Adams (1-3; 6.40 ERA) vs. Senior RHP Brian Drapeau (0-4; 5.64 ERA)
Saturday, April 9 and/or Sunday, April 10
Game 1 (7 inn.) - Freshman LHP Neil Abbatiello (1-2; 4.12 ERA) vs. Sophomore LHP Cory Hart (1-1, 6.43 ERA)
Game 2 (9 inn.) - Senior LHP Matt Morris (2-2; 4.22 ERA) vs. Freshman RHP Anthony Rupp (0-1, 6.86 ERA)
LAST TIME OUT
Weather also shortened LIU's series at league-leader Bryant. The two teams got two games in (with Bryant winning, 3-1 and 5-1), before snow forced the squads to cancel the final two games of the series. Because the two teams play again later this season, the games will not be rescheduled.
SCOUTING THE SEAHAWKS
Wagner enters the weekend 9-14 overall, and 5-3 in NEC action. Early in the season, the Seahawks swept Mount St. Mary's in four games (20-4, 17-4, 14-6 and 2-0), and won the series opener against CCSU, 16-2. The slide began there, however, and Wagner has lost four straight games. The Blue Devils won the next three games to take the series (2-0, 5-4, 8-2), and earlier this week, Wagner fell to Seton Hall, 9-2.
The Seahawks have some hot bats so far this season. Wagner currently has the highest team batting average in the NEC (.310). Junior infielder Nick Mascelli is one of the main reasons why. Mascelli leads the conference in batting average (.474), on base percentage (.512), and slugging percentage (.618). He's also second in hits (36) and fourth in total bases (47) and runs scored (18). Two other Seahawks rank in the conference in major categories - senior Ben Ruta is second in the conference in doubles (9) and fifth in RBI (18), while freshman Phil Capra is second in the league in RBI, with 21.
Wagner also has one of the best arms in the conference. So far this year, junior Austin Goeke has a 2.12 ERA, good for third in NEC. He's 3-1 on the mound so far, and ranks second in the NEC in opponent batting percentage (.190), and third in strikeouts (36).
UP NEXT
The Blackbirds have a week of non-conference games coming up next. LIU will host Stony Brook, Wednesday, April 13 at 3 p.m., before heading over the Hudson to take on Seton Hall in a three-game series next Friday, April 15 to Sunday, April 17.