LAKEWOOD, N.J. – The LIU baseball team took part in an epic battle with Wagner Friday afternoon. The two teams engaged in a pitcher's duel that went 11 full innings before either team would break it open. The Sharks ended up scoring four runs in the top of the 12th to clinch the win, and improve to 9-5 overall, and 7-3 in the Northeast Conference.
Starter
Jackson Svete was strong for LIU, pitching 6.1 innings, while giving up just one unearned run, and striking out six.
Wagner got on the board first, scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the third, as an RBI single would bring in the runner who reached on an error, putting the Seahawks up, 1-0.
LIU answered in the topo of the fifth. With two outs,
Anthony Warneke singled, and stole second. The speedy senior came home from second on the next at bat, when
EJ Exposito singled to left field, and the game was tied, 1-1.
Neither team would score again until extra innings. Wagner would threaten in the bottom of the night, getting a runner ono third, but LIU's defense retired the next three batters without allowing the runner too score, and the two teams went to the 10th.
The Sharks would rally with two outs in the top of the 12th. Sophomore
Carlton Harper came in to pinch hit, and singled up the middle.
Seth Surrett followed that with a single of his own, and
Cade Biddle walked to load the bases. Warneke would hit a long double down the right field line that would bring all three runners home, and put LIU up, 4-1. Exposito added an insurance run with his single to left center that would bring Warneke home, and LIU led, 5-1.
In the bottom of the frame, Wagner would get runners in scoring position, but the Sharks' defense got a play at third for the second out, and then pitcher
Rob Griswold got the third out on a ground out, clinching the victory for LIU.
Nick Torres would pitch 2.0 scoreless innings of relief, while Griswold (2-0) got the win, pitching 3.2 innings and holding Wagner to zero runs on just three hits.
Up next, the two teams resume the series, playing in a double header, Saturday, April 10. The two nine inning games will begin at 1 p.m.
