PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – The LIU Brooklyn baseball team dropped a midweek non-conference game Tuesday afternoon at Villanova Ballpark, falling to the Wildcats, 4-3. The game was a close one, with both teams scoring all their runs in the first two innings, before the bullpens shut down scoring.

LIU got on the board first, scoring all three runs in the top of the first inning. Senior Brian Lamboy led off with a walk. With one out, freshman Andy Camilo also walked. Junior Harrison Preschel was walked to load the bases, and freshman Kyle Ruth put the Blackbirds on the board with an RBI single through the left side. Senior John Knauth brought two more runners home, when with two outs, he hit a single to left center field, and LIU led, 3-0.

Villanova answered in the bottom of the second inning. Four straight singles started the Wildcats off. A bunt single and an RBI single tied the game up 3-3, and a sacrifice fly gave the home team what would be the go-ahead run.

From there, the bullpens shut both teams down. Senior Chas Lacko was lights out against the Wildcats, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings for LIU, giving up just three hits. Sophomore Cory Hart closed the game for LIU, pitching one inning and giving up just one hit.

Neither team would get a runner in scoring position, until Camilo had a double in the top of the ninth inning, and two Blackbirds were walked. Even then, Villanova was able to get back-to-back strikeouts and a line out to end the inning, and the game, taking the 4-3 victory.

Freshman Matt Bohenek had the loss in his first start on the mound. Freshman Andrew Smith went 2-for-2 at the plate, while senior John Knauth had a team-high two RBI for the Blackbirds.

Up next, the Blackbirds take on NEC foe Fairleigh Dickinson in a four-game series this weekend, taking place in Garden City, N.Y.