VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

NORWICH, Conn. – The LIU Brooklyn Baseball team (30-24) pounded out their sixth straight win and a program record 30th victory with a dominating 12-3 victory over No. Bryant on Friday, to advance to the
Northeast Conference Baseball Championship game on Saturday afternoon at Dodd Stadium in Norwich. Conn. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
 
The Blackbirds (30-24), who scored in five consecutive innings, now await the result of the loser's bracket game on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. between No. 1 Bryant (32-21-1) and No. 2 Wagner (37-17).
 
In the first inning following a leadoff walk, Bryant hit back-to-back doubles to take a 2-0 lead, with Shane Kelly getting a pair of RBIs on the second two-bagger. In the third, Mickey Gasper added a solo shot to right field, to give Bryant an early 3-0 lead.
 
Then in the bottom of the same frame, the Blackbirds got on the scoreboard on four singles, the last two by senior Andrew Turner and junior Edward Modica Jr. to drive in two runs, to make it a one run game at 3-2. In the fourth inning, LIU tied the game up on a double by junior Anthony Warneke to drive in classmate Gregory Vaughn Jr., who was on second base after a single and a steal.
 
The Blackbirds broke through again in the fifth inning with seven runs, beginning with a Modica bunt single to get the game-winning  rally started. Luis Arias de los Santos followed with a double down the left field line, setting the stage for senior Dom Paiotti to bring him home on a single for a 4-3 lead. Vaughn then followed with a sacrifice fly to deep left enter field to give the Blackbirds a two-run lead.

LIU exploded for five more runs the lead out to nine runs in the bottom of the sixth frame with Alex Briggs, Modica and Dom Paiotti each getting RBI singles, before Vaughn hit a double to no man's land down the right field line for a double to bring in two more runs. A double steal by Arias (to second) and Briggs to home give the victors a ten-run cushion.
 
Junior righty Zach Pederson (6-4) earned the win after the rough start, not allowing a runner past first base over his final two innings. He went six innings, giving up five hits, four walks and three runs with three strikeouts, all earned in his first start in two weeks after skipping last weekend. Sophomore Rob Griswold came on for the final three innings, yielding one run on four hits and no walks.
 
Senior starter Jack Patterson (6-3), the NEC Pitcher of the Year, took the loss for the Bulldogs, even after getting his first eight outs via a strikeout. He gave up five runs, all earned, and had 11 Ks in total.
 
BIG NUMBERS BY THE BLACKBIRDS
The Blackbirds pounded out 18 hits in the game, with the number two, three and four hitters Alex Briggs, Andrew Turner and Edward Modica Jr., each going 3-for-5 on the day. Briggs scored a team-high three runs and Gregory Vaughn Jr. had three runs batted in for the victors. In the game, Vaughn went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Modica's line was similar, going 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs. Senior Dom Paiotti continued his hot hitting, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
The Blackbirds also won game number 30 on the season for the first time in program history with Friday's victory.
 
NEC NOTES FROM NORWICH
The Blackbirds have never won the team's first two games of the NEC Tournament. The Blackbirds have been to the NEC Championship game twice in 1995 and 1996, but were eliminated both times with their second loss coming at the hands of then-NEC member Rider in game six. The Blackbirds have never won the NEC Tournament Championship. The team last won a NEC title in 1990, before there was a NEC postseason event.

UPDATED TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, MAY 24
Game 1: No.1 Bryant 21, No. 4 Mount St. Mary's 6
Game 2: No. 3 LIU BROOKLYN 2, No. 2 Wagner 1
FRIDAY, MAY 25
Game 3: No. 2 Wagner 3, No. 4 Mount St. Mary's 1 | Mount eliminationed
Game 4: No. 3 LIU BROOKLYN 13,  No. 1 Bryant 4
SATURDAY, MAY 26
12:00 pm • Game 5:  No. 1 Bryant (32-22-1) vs. No. 2 Wagner (37-17) | elimination game
4:00 pm • Game 6: No. 3 LIU BROOKLYN (30-24) vs. Game 5 winner | Championship Round
SUNDAY, MAY 27
12:00 pm • Game 7: If Necessary | Championship Game