BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The LIU Brooklyn baseball team fell to Central Connecticut State, 9-2 on Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the Blackbirds finish the 2019 season 20-33 and 10-14 in Northeast Conference play.
 
Prior to the game Saturday, LIU honored its 13 graduating seniors at LIU Field: Alex Briggs, Frank Cerillo, Brock Hallum, Luiny Monegro, Zach Pederson, Jonathan Schreier, Jonathan Sell, Gregory Vaughn Jr., Mike Kreiger, Joe Mercadante, Edward Modica Jr., Anthony Rupp and Andrew Smith.
 
CCSU struck first with a first two-out home run in the first inning and a one-out RBI double in the second for the early lead.
 
LIU got on the board in the top of the third as junior Rob Griswold lined a single through the left side. Hallum then stepped to the dish and took the 1-2 offering over the wall in right center field to tie the game at 2-2.  The Blackbirds looked to continue the inning with the bases loaded but CCSU escaped trouble with a triple play.
 
The Blue Devils responded in the next frame, picking up a two-out two-run double to left field to jump ahead 4-2. CCSU struck again in the fifth inning with a pair of home runs to push the lead to 6-2. The visiting team added two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to compete the scoring.
 
LIU's offense was held to just two hits over the final five innings as they looked to fight for the NEC's fourth and final tournament spot. Hallum and Vaughn combined for four of the Blackbirds seven hits on the day.
 
The Blackbirds used eight pitchers in the final contest looking, contain the high powered CCSU offense. Rupp paced the team with four strikeouts in a scoreless two and a third innings of relief. Freshman Nick Torres, junior Patrick Clyne and Kreiger recorded multiple strikeouts as well.