VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
NORWICH, Conn. – Behind a tremendous performance on the mound by Patrick Clyne, the LIU Brooklyn Baseball team (29-24) was triumphant in their return to the Northeast Conference Baseball Championship with a 2-1 win over rival Wagner.
With the win, the No. 3 Blackbirds surpassed the program record with 29 wins this season. LIU, riding a five-game winning streak, now moves to the winner's bracket to face No. 1 Bryant on Friday at 4:00 p.m. A sophomore lefty, Clyne (5-4) had his best start of the season, throwing a two-hitter over the first 7.1 innings of the game, he threw 106 pitches and yielded only three walks to go with seven strikeouts. Junior closer Mike Kreiger came on to pitch the rest of the eighth inning and closed out the game for the last 1.2 innings to earn his sixth save of the season.
"It was a big moment to start the first game of the tournament, and Clyne pulled through for us," said head coach Dan Pirillo. "He was in control of the game, and like the rest of the team, kept focus all the way through."
Wagner starter Eric Ligda was strong as well, going 6.2 innings, giving up only four hits and had three strikeouts, before coming out with a no decision.
In the top of the eighth inning, Alex Briggs and Andrew Turner led off the frame with back-to-back singles, and it was followed by an Anthony Warneke walk to load the bases. Then with one out senior Dom Paiotti hit a slow chopper to the left side, forcing the Wagner second baseman to throw home to get the lead runner. The throw to the catcher sailed high, to let the lead runner, Briggs home. Turner followed on the error to make the score 2-0. Turner was the only Blackbird with two hits on the day.
The four-team double-elimination tournament, being played at Dodd Memorial Stadium in Norwich, Connecticut continues through the weekend. Earlier on Thursday, No. 1 Bryant crushed No. 4 Mount St. Mary's, 21-6 to send Mount to the loser's bracket while Bryant waited for the winner of game two.