Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2
New Britain, Conn. - Freshman Justin Topa threw a complete game five-hitter and drove in a run along with eight of his teammates as the Long Island University baseball team defeated Central Connecticut State, 11-1, in the second game of a doubleheader. The Blackbirds dropped game one, 5-4, in extra innings.
Long Island scored once in the first, twice in the second and three times in the third inning to take a commanding 6-1 lead behind a fine effort from Topa. The rookie righthander struck out five while allowing just one run on five hits and two walks on his way to improving to 6-6 on the season.
The Blackbirds scored in all but two innings and everyone but catcher
Tyler Jones, who was ejected in the first inning, drove in a run. Third baseman
Greg DeSantis was 4-for-4 with two runs and an RBI and shortstop
Drew Walsh also scored two runs and drove in another, going 3-for-4.
Central Connecticut State starter Tyler Riordan took the loss, falling to 2-4. In 1 1/3 innings, he allowed three runs on five hits and two walks.
For the second game in a row, the Blue Devils walked off with a win in the first seven-inning contest of the day. Long Island led 4-1 before Central Connecticut scored twice in the fifth and once more in the sixth to tie things up.
In the bottom of the eighth, Kyle Zarotney drew a walk off reliever
Luke Hammond and was sacrificed to second. One out later, Richie Tri singled to knock in Zarotney and win the game.
Long Island senior
Kenny Cedel made the final start of his career, lasting 5 2/3 innings. He gave up four runs on seven hits and five walks while fanning eight.
Hammond fell to 0-2 with the loss. Roy Natoli earned the win for the Blue Devils, improving to 3-2.
Extra bases. Cedel’s eight strikeouts marked the third time this season he has fanned at least eight batters. He now has 216 for his career, moving into second place all-time at Long Island… Topa’s complete game was his fifth of the season. He was forced to hit after Jones was ejected in the first inning, forcing designated hitter
Chris Kievit to catch. Topa was 0-for-3 with a run and an RBI on a fielder’s choice… Long Island is now 14-41 (11-20 Northeast Conference). Central Connecticut has a record of 28-20 (17-14)… The teams will wrap up the regular season on Sunday, May 23 at 1:00 p.m.