March 27, 2008
Box Score
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - After splitting a pair of games with St. Peter's College on Wednesday, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore woke up the next morning and headed to New York to take on Long Island University (LIU) in a single game non-conference contest at LIU Field. Whether is was the trip, playing the day before, or the Blackbird pitching, UMES came out slow and managed just seven hits on the day and no runs as LIU topped UMES 11-0.
The Hawks (4-22) and Blackbirds were scoreless through the first inning and a half but LIU plated four runs in the second and four in the third, all off of starter Dan Sterling, to take a commanding 8-0 lead. They tacked on two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth and would not score again. Sterling allowed the first eight runs in two and two-thirds innings. He allowed six hits and five walks while getting just one K. He took the loss to fall to 0-4.
UMES went to their pen throughout the game. Jervonta' Wright pitched two-thirds of an inning and allowed the two runs in the third while Mike Roberts came in and allowed the single run in the fifth in one inning of work. Ken Richardson, Russell Deutschmann and Carl Huber combined to finish the last three and two thirds innings with no runs and just a pair of hits off of Richardson.
Offensively the seven hits were spread out with Jorge Pichardo collecting three of them on a 3-4 day. Deutschmann went 2-4 while Pat Hercinger and Josh Dunham had a single apiece. Pichardo and Deutschmann each had a double in the game.
LIU (8-12) recorded their fourth straight win in the victory and their seventh in their last eight games. Long Island struck early when Gerard Tingos, who finished two for three, belted a one-out offering by Sterling over the right-field wall for a grand slam in the second inning.
The Blackbirds added three more runs in the third when Chris Kievit hit a shot over the left-field fence. The two-run bomb put Long Island up 5-0. Long Island tacked on another run when shortstop Dan Pirillo bunted for a base hit, stole second and scored on centerfielder James Jones' single. Jones' RBI hit chased Sterling.
The Blackbirds added two more runs in the fourth. Kievit added a pair of singles and a triple. He was a double shy of the cycle and seemed to get it when he hit a shot down the third-base line. The Hawks' third baseman Hercinger made a terrific diving stop and threw out Kievit at first. Kievit finished 4-for-5 and drove in four runs while scoring three more.
Right-hander Matt Owens picked up the win, improving to 2-0. In five innings, he allowed just four hits and two walks, while striking out one.
UMES returns home for a very important Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) match-up this weekend against Delaware State as the Hawks host the Hornets. They will play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon and a single game on Sunday starting at 1:00 p.m. All three games will streamed live on the internet with audio and video and the first game on each day will be broadcast live locally on Sportstalk 960-AM The Team.
