Blackbirds stop Bulldogs streak, take game two, 8-4

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – LIU Brooklyn used a three-run third inning to defeat the Bryant University baseball team, 8-4, in game two of their Northeast Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Conaty Park.

The loss snaps the Bulldogs' (13-19, 7-2 NEC) six-game winning streak, while the Blackbirds (11-16, 3-7) earned their sixth win all-time in Smithfield.

With the game tied at 3-3, LIU scored three runs on just two hits and one Bryant error. Joe Mercadante walked and Edward Modica and Andrew Turner followed with consecutive singles to break the tie. A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position and Harrison Preschel made it 5-3 with a sac fly. The final run of the inning scored on a dropped pop up.

The Blackbirds extended their lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Preschel scored Turner with a two-out double in the fifth, while Dom Paiotti scored Charles Misiano with a double in the sixth.

Bryant made things interesting in each of the final two innings but only pushed across one run. The first two Bulldogs reached in the sixth but reliever Mike Kreiger retired the final three batters of the inning. In the seventh, two singles, including freshman Bryan Hart's (Franklin, Mass.) first-career hit, and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. Kreiger limited the damage with a double-play ball and a ground out.

LIU and Bryant each plated three runs in the first inning in game two. Misiano doubled to start the game and scored on a passed ball. Anthony Capo delivered an RBI single and Preschel made it 3-0 with a sac fly to center.

The Black and Gold answered in the bottom of the first. Senior Cole Fabio (Mahwah, N.J.) doubled to start the inning and then stole third, his 56th career stolen base. He is now tied with Carl Anderson for the Bryant DI program record.

An errant pickoff scored Fabio from third and junior Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) plated a run with a double into the right field corner. Freshman Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) then tied the game with a single through the right side.

Wright's single, however, was the last hit the Bulldogs would get against LIU starter Jackson Svete. The freshman right hander allowed just three baserunners over next four innings and finished with five innings of three-run ball. He allowed three hits, walked three and struck out three.

Wright started on the mound for the Black and Gold but lasted just one inning, allowing three runs on three hits. Junior Ross Weiner (Woodbridge, Conn.) suffered the loss, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits in two innings. Classmate Matt Knych (Manville, R.I.) finished the game with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Fabio had two hits and scored two runs, while Wright had a hit, walked twice and was hit by a pitch.

The Bulldogs and Blackbirds wrap up their series on Sunday with a first pitch scheduled at noon.