BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — The LIU baseball team dodged the raindrops and pounced on Bryant in Friday's series opener.

Christopher Hund slugged his first collegiate homer to highlight a six-run first inning as the Sharks maintained first place in the Northeast Conference with an 11-5 victory against the Bulldogs.

Hund's three-run shot to left field on a down-and-in fastball capped the scoring in the six-run frame against Bryant starter Collin Lowe.

LIU Athletics personnel recovered the baseball for Hund to save as a memento.

"I've been waiting for it, and it finally happened," Hund said. "It's a big game, big series. And I'm happy to do it when it counts the most."

All of the first-inning runs came with two outs.

Colin Adams' single plated Christopher Wasson and preceded Hund's long ball. The Bulldogs committed an error, had a pair of infielders collide on what became an infield single and plunked a batter as all the runs in the inning were unearned.

Nick DeSalvo (4-1) earned the win after tossing the final 4 1/3 innings in relief of starter Nick Torres. DeSalvo had a scoreless relief effort until surrendering a pair of homers in a driving rain in the ninth with the Sharks leading by nine runs.

"It was like brownie batter out there," DeSalvo said about the mound. "I just did what I could and tried to fill the zone and let the rest happen. Hitting is hard. I wanted to throw them strikes and let them get themselves out."

Torres limited Bryant to two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings while working in the rainy conditions.

The Sharks, who entered the day in a tie with Central Connecticut and Fairleigh Dickinson atop the conference, improved to 28-15 overall and 13-6 in the NEC.

The series against Bryant is scheduled to continue Saturday, weather permitting. But with more inclement weather expected, the teams may instead close the three-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday at 11 a.m.