FORT MYERS, Fla.— The LIU Brooklyn baseball team dropped the series finale to Florida Gulf Coast University, 9-1 on Sunday afternoon at Swanson Stadium.

LIU once again looked to strike first as senior Andrew Smith led off the second inning with a single up the middle. He would advance to third on a wild pitch with one out to give the Blackbirds a runner in scoring position. But FGCU was able to evade trouble with a strikeout and groundout to end the frame.

The Eagles got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning on a sacrifice bunt with runners on the corners and one out to take the 1-0 lead. FGCU added three runs in the bottom of the third inning on after loading the bases with no-outs to start the inning. The Eagles tacked on a pair of runs in the fourth inning on two hits to take a 6-0 lead.

The Blackbirds put a pair of runners on a senior Gregory Vaughn Jr. got hit by a pitch and Smith worked a five-pitch walk in the top of the seventh. FGCU got two quick outs before junior Rob Griswold stepped to the dish. He laced a single up the middle to score Vaughn and get LIU on the board. The Eagles escaped the inning on a strikeout with the bases loaded two batters later. FGCU capped the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Clyne surrendered four runs in two and a third innings in the start for LIU. Sophomore James Steindl recorded three strikeouts in two innings of work out of the bullpen in his first appearance of the season. Redshirt-sophomore Frank Cerillo added a scoreless inning of relief for LIU. The Blackbirds were outhit by the Eagles 10-2 in the finale.

UP NEXT

The Blackbirds will stay down south with a midweek meeting at the University of Georgia on Tuesday, February 25. The 5:00 p.m. start will air on the SEC Network Plus.