BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn baseball team had a strong start Tuesday afternoon, taking an early lead on local rival St. John's, before the Red Storm would rally to score six runs in the seventh inning, and take the 9-4 win from LIU.
 
The visiting team would get on the board first in the top of the first inning. With two outs, an SJU player reached on an error and stole second. He came home on an RBI single, and the Johnnies led, 1-0. But the Blackbirds would get on the board and take the lead in the bottom of the third. Sophomore Luis Arias de los Santos led off with a single down the left field line, and classmate Andrew Smith came up next. Smith bunted and successfully beat the throw to put two runners on. Junior Dom Paiotti would single to load the bases with one out. The first LIU run would score on a fielder's choice to tie it up, 1-1. Junior Andrew Turner came to the plate and hit a home run over the right field fence to clear the bases, giving LIU the 4-1 advantage.
 
St. John's would answer with a two run home run in the top of the fourth, but pitcher Baylor LaPointe was able to get the final Johnnie to strike out swinging, and the Blackbirds held on to a 4-3 lead.
 
LaPointe, who struck out six batters in 3.0 innings of work, held St. John's scoreless for the next two innings. In the top of the seventh, however, St. John's was able to retake the lead, scoring six runs on five hits, two hit batters and two walks. At the end of the inning, the Red Storm led 9-4.
 
Senior Matt Ornstein and freshman Sam Vega-Fox would combine to limit St. John's to no runs and just two hits over the final 3.0 innings of action. Junior Andrew Turner finished the day going 2-4 with a game-high three RBI.
 
Up next, the Blackbirds host league rival Sacred Heart for a four-game series with major playoff implications. The two teams will face off on LIU Field starting Thursday, May 18 at 3 p.m.