NORFOLK, Va. – The LIU Brooklyn baseball team dropped a tough decision to open the 2017 season Friday afternoon, falling to host Old Dominion, 13-0 in nine innings. The Blackbirds were held to just three hits in the shutout loss. The series resumes Saturday, February 18 at 2 p.m.
Sophomore
Joe Mercadante, who led LIU at the plate going 2-for-4, got the game started on the right note for the Blackbirds with a single up the middle. Classmate
Luis Arias de los Santos' sacrifice bunt put a runner in scoring position for the Blackbirds. But ODU's pitcher was able to get the next two outs, and escape the top of the first inning scoreless.
The Monarchs would score two runs in the bottom of the frame, on an RBI single and a wild pitch. The home team added three more in the bottom of the second, including two unearned runs, to take the early lead, 5-0.
LIU had a chance to get on the board in the top of the third. Senior
Charles Misiano was walked with one out, and Mercadante came to the plate and blasted a double down the left field line that would put two runners in scoring position. But ODU's hurler got the next two batters to strike out swinging, and the Blackbirds stranded two more without getting on the board.
The home team blew the game open in the bottom of the third inning, scoring seven runs on six hits, including a double and two triples. Though the 12-0 advantage would be enough to assure the win, Old Dominion added one more run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI double, to widen the lead to 13-0.
Sophomore
Anthony Rupp had the loss on the mound, giving up 11 runs on nine hits. Freshman
Patrick Clyne and senior
Matt Ornstein combined for the final 5.2 innings to hold ODU to just one hit apiece, with one run scored. Clyne led LIU with five strikeouts, while Ornstein had two in 10 batters faced.
Sophomore
Joe Mercadante led LIU at the plate, with two hits in four at bats, including a double, while sophomore
Andrew Smith had a hit and a stolen base for the Blackbirds.
The three-game series resumes Saturday, February 18 at 2 p.m.