JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.— The LIU Brooklyn baseball team closed out its 11-day trip down south, dropping a doubleheader at East Tennessee State University on Saturday afternoon. The Blackbirds were defeated 7-2 by the Buccaneers in both games at Thomas Stadium.

Game One - ESTU 7, LIU 2

ESTU jumped on the scoreboard early to kick off the twin bill with a four-run first inning. The Buccaneers recorded their first two runs on a wild pitch and walk from junior Patrick Clyne before a two-run single capped the inning.

LIU tack on a pair of runs in the top half of the fourth inning as senior Alex Briggs started the rally reaching third base on an error out in left field with two outs. Senior Andrew Smith drove in Briggs in the next at bat ripping a 1-0 offering to right field for the RBI double. Junior Tim Bechtold extended the inning with a RBI single to right field to bring the score to 4-2. LIU had a pair of runners still on base before ETSU finally escaped the inning with a pick-off play.

The Buccaneers would plate a run in the bottom of the fifth before adding a run in the seventh and eighth inning to cap the scoring. LIU was held to three hits over the final four innings of play by the ETSU bullpen.

Smith and junior Rob Griswold recorded two hits apiece as the Blackbirds tallied seven hits in game one.

Clyne suffered the loss for LIU, surrendering five runs over four innings of work. Freshman Nick Torres pitched the remaining four innings of relief, surrendering two runs on five hits.

Game Two - ESTU 7, LIU 2

LIU came out swinging in game two, as Briggs and Smith picked up back-to-back singles to start the top of the second inning. After a groundout advanced both runners, Griswold stepped up to the dish and delivered a sacrifice fly to give the Blackbirds the 1-0 lead.

ETSU responded in the third with five runs on five hits to take the lead at 5-1. Four of the Buccaneers' runs came with two outs in the third.

The Blackbirds got one run back in the top of the fourth as senior Gregory Vaughn Jr. picked up a one-out triple to right field. He scored in the next at bat as Briggs lifted the 2-2 pitch to deep center field for the sacrifice fly to cut the score to 5-2. ETSU responded with a two-out RBI single up the middle in the next half inning to push the lead back to four.

The Buccaneers scored their final run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a one-out sacrifice fly. LIU looked for a late rally as senior Joe Mercadante and Griswold led off the eighth inning with back-to-back singles. Both would advance to second and third on a ball in the dirt on a swinging third strike. ETSU evaded trouble striking out the side to end the inning.

LIU recorded six hits in the series finale as Vaughn led the way with two of the team's hits.

Freshman Alec Huertas suffered the loss in the start for the Blackbirds. He surrendered six runs in five innings of work while striking out four. Rookie left hander Chris Buehler came on in relief for his first collegiate appearance, giving up just one run in three innings of work.

UP NEXT

The Blackbirds make the return up north for a mid-week matchup on Wednesday, March 6 at Stony Brook. First pitch at Joe Nathan Field is set for 3:00 p.m.