BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The LIU Brooklyn baseball team rallied late to beat Fairfield, 4-3 in the home opener at LIU Field on Tuesday afternoon. In the first game action in 10-days, LIU registered eight hits in the victory over the Stags.

Senior Joe Mercadante, junior Tim Bechtold and sophomore Colin Adams all recorded multi-hit games for the Blackbirds.  Senior Mike Kreiger closed the ninth for his first save of the season and his 19th career save, setting a new program record. The previous mark of 18 career saves was held by Evan Zerff '13. Junior Rob Griswold pitched two shutout innings of relief, striking out five batters in his first win of the season.

The Blackbirds got on the scoreboard early as senior Gregory Vaughn Jr. smacked a two-out home run over the left field wall for the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Senior Zach Pederson pitched a solid opening three innings in the start for LIU, holding the Stags to just one hit while striking out three.

Fairfield tied up the game up in the top half of the fifth inning on a RBI single by Jake Gethings with no outs against junior Patrick Clyne. The southpaw evaded trouble with a pair of strikeouts and a flyout to end the frame.

The Stags pushed their lead in the next half inning on a leadoff home run and back-to-back doubles to jump ahead 3-1. LIU opened the bottom half of the sixth with runners in scoring position as a a failed pick-off to put runners on second and third. The Blackbirds plated one run on a sacrifice fly from senior Alex Briggs to cut the deficit to a run.

The Blackbirds got a one-two-three top half of the seventh as Griswold took the bump. Momentum carried over for the Blackbirds in the bottom half of the inning as the first three batters reach base to open the frame. Senior Luiny Monegro recorded the RBI groundout to tie the game up at 3-3. Fairfield got the second out on a fielders choice looking to escape trouble but the Blackbirds would continue the inning with the bases loaded. Vaughn recorded his second RBI of the game and go-ahead run on a hit by pitch with a full count to give LIU the 4-3 lead.

Griswold struck out the side in the top of the eighth inning before handing the ball off to Kreiger in the ninth. The senior surrendered a one out walk before inducing a game ending double play to give the Blackbirds the win. LIU has won its last three home openers at LIU Field. 

ON DECK

LIU is back in the swing of things tomorrow afternoon with a  matchup at Stony Brook at 3:00 p.m.