STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn baseball team had a heart-breaking loss at RCB Ballpark Friday afternoon, as Wagner had two home runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to walk-off on the Blackbirds and take the 8-5 win.

Sophomore Anthony Rupp had the start on the mound for LIU, and gave up just three hits in 7.0 innings of work, with no earned runs scored. Wagner got on the board in the bottom of the third, scoring a run on an error. With the inning extended, the Seahawks managed to get a two RBI double to left field, and took a 3-0 lead into the fourth inning.

LIU was able to tie it up in the top of the fifth. Senior Harrison Preschel and sophomore William Jackson III had back-to-back walks to lead off, and senior Charles Misiano brought them both home with a double down the left field line. Junior Dom Paiotti tied the game up with an RBI single up the middle, and the score was knotted, 3-3.

The Blackbirds took the lead in the top of the seventh. Paiotti walked to lead off and stole second, and advanced to third on an error. Senior Anthony Capo would bring him home with an RBI single up the middle, and LIU led, 4-3.

LIU would add a run in the top of the ninth, when two errors put sophomore Luis Arias de los Santos on third base. Preschel singled to center field to score the run and put the Blackbirds on top, 5-3.

But Wagner would come charging back in the bottom of the ninth, staging a rally with two outs. A two-RBI home run to left field tied the game up, 5-5. Back-to-back singles would then put two runners on base, and a walk-off home run over the right field fence gave the Seahawks the 8-5 win.

The two teams continue the series, Saturday, April 29 at 1 p.m., with a double header. LIU and Wagner will play a nine inning contest, followed by a seven inning make-up game.