BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — The LIU baseball team will head into the home stretch of the regular season tied atop the Northeast Conference standings.

The Sharks split a doubleheader with Bryant on Sunday, winning 8-4 and losing 5-3.

Right-hander Joshua Loeschorn took command in Game 1, taking a scoreless effort into the fourth inning and later quashing a threat to complete his seven-inning outing.

The Sharks erupted for six runs in the third inning, highlighted by two-run doubles from Giovanni Ciaccio and Carlton Harper.

Loeschorn limited the Bulldogs to three unearned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six in a 102-pitch effort spanning seven innings.

In his final frame, after one of four errors in the game by the Sharks prolonged the inning, Loeschoern faced a bases-loaded, one-out jam with LIU leading 8-3.

Loeschorn proceeded to strike out Jake Gustin looking and then coaxed an inning-ending popout to first base from Alex Lane.

"My fastball command was really good today — both in and out and up and down," Loeschorn said. "A big factor in my success today was getting back to making good pitches early in the count."

Kurt Lange then took over for Loeschorn and was poised to go the rest of the way before being forced to depart with one out remaining after getting struck in a leg with a comebacker.

In Game 2, right-hander Jalen Wade had a similarly strong showing, limiting Bryant to one run on five hits in six innings. However, the Sharks surrendered four runs in the ninth while trying to protect a 3-1 lead.

With the series win, the Sharks are 29-16 overall and 14-7 in the NEC — tied with Central Connecticut for first place.

LIU now also is within two of matching the program record for wins in a season, set in 2018 with 31 while playing in Brooklyn.

The Sharks still have conference series against FDU and Mount St. Mary's as well as a May 17 trip to Siena remaining in the regular season.

"It's huge knowing that we control our own destiny," Loeschorn said.