NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Long Island University baseball team took one of two games from Merrimack College during a double-header on Saturday, March 27. The Sharks suffered a 6-2 setback in the day's opener before coming back with a 9-2 victory during game two.
 
Cade Biddle led LIU with three hits on the day, while Christopher Wasson, Seth Surrett, EJ Exposito, and Anthony Warneke each collected two hits. Giovanni Ciaccio and Davyn Adamscheck hit one home run, while Ciaccio drove in a team-best three runs.
 
On the mound, Rob Griswold earned a four-inning save during game two. Griswold did not allow a hit over the four innings, striking out two and walking just one. Mike Lazos earned the win with five innings of work, scattering five hits and allowing just two runs.
 
Game One: Merrimack 6, LIU 2
 
It was the Sharks taking the first lead of the day when Ciaccio hit a solo home run during the top of the third inning. The bats fell silent after the big blast, however, and Merrimack took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and extended the advantage with another three runs during the sixth.
 
Following a final insurance run in the seventh inning, LIU tacked on one more run during the ninth inning when Adamsheck sent one over the right-field fence, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
 
Game Two: LIU 9, Merrimack 2
 
The script was flipped in game two, as the Warriors took an early lead with one run during their first at-bat. An infield single during the third inning brought LIU level with Merrimack at 1-1, and the Sharks struck for two more runs during the fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead.
 
Following a solo home run by the Warriors in the bottom of the fourth, LIU blew the game open with four runs during the sixth inning. A bases-loaded walk from Ciaccio started the scoring, while Exposito and Warneke drove in runs later in the frame. Warneke capped off the inning by stealing home on a delayed steal play as the Sharks took a 7-2 lead into the final innings.
 
The Blue and Gold added two insurance runs during the seventh inning and Griswold's dominating performance on the mound took care of the rest.
 
LIU will return to the diamond for a mid-week non-conference tilt against Sacred Heart University on Tuesday, March 30 at 3:00 p.m.