Offense Erupts as Blackbirds Shut Out UMES, 11-0
Catcher Chris Kievit went 4-for-5 with a homer, a triple, two singles and four RBIs.
3/27/2008 6:09:07 PM
Box Score
Brooklyn, N.Y. - Catcher Chris Kievit (Wayne, N.J.) came up just short of the cycle, second baseman Gerard Tingos (Staten Island, N.Y.) hit a grand slam and the pitching staff allowed just seven hits as the Long Island University baseball team shut out Maryland-Eastern Shore, 11-0, at LIU Field. The win was the fourth in a row for the Blackbirds (8-12) and the seventh in the last eight games.
Long Island struck early when Tingos belted a one-out offering by UMES starter Dan Sterling over the right-field wall for a grand slam in the second innig. It was the third homer of the season for Tingos, who finished 2-for-3.
The Blackbirds added three more runs in the third when Kievit hit a moon shot over the left-field fence and onto Ashland Avenue. The two-run bomb put Long Island up 5-0. Long Island tacked on another run when shortstop Dan Pirillo (Marlboro, N.Y.) bunted for a base hit, stole second and scored on centerfielder James Jones’ (Brooklyn, N.Y.) single. Jones’ RBI hit chased Sterling and reliever Jertonta’ Wright did not fare much better. After swiping two bags, Jones came around to score on a single by leftfielder Frank DiMasi (Staten Island, N.Y.).
The Blackbirds added two more runs in the fourth and the rout was on. Kievit swung a hot stick, adding a pair of singles and a triple. He seemed destined to hit for the cycle and ripped a shot down the third-base line that had double written all over it. Hawks third baseman Pat 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.
Sophomore righthander Matt Owens (Metuchen, N.J.) picked up the win, improving to 2-0. In five innings, he allowed just four hits and two walks, while striking out one. Sterling took the loss for UMES (4-22), dropping to 0-4. Sophomore Jesse Johnson (Dingmans Ferry, Pa.), junior Peter Doherty (Jackson, N.J.), sophomore Dan Iglesias (San Diego, Calif.) and junior Andy Yawger (Morristown, N.J.) each pitched a shutout inning out of the bullpen, combining to allow three hits.
Long Island will host Saint Peter’s on Wednesday, April 2 at 3:30 p.m.