BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — The LIU baseball team welcomed back alumni from multiple generations on Saturday. The Sharks then nearly overcame a double-digit deficit against Coppin State.

The Sharks scored the game's final 10 runs, but fell to the Eagles, 11-10, at the LIU Baseball Stadium.

The teams will play the rubber game of the three-game series on Sunday at noon.

Trailing 11-0 on Saturday, LIU began clawing back with a four-run fifth that was capped by JC Navarro's two-run homer.

LIU moved within 11-10 on a two-run single from Seth Surrett in a five-run seventh, but the Sharks could not produce the equalizer.

Tatsuya Uemoto and Chris Buehler combined for 4 1/3 scoreless relief innings.

Surrett went 2-for-4 and now has multi-hit performances in each of his three games since returning from a 30-game absence.

Navarro went 3-for-5.

The alumni attendees on Saturday included Edward Fitzgerald, who flew in from Orlando. He started in right field for LIU Post during the first-ever game at the stadium's current site, back in 1967.

The returnees also included Jackson Svete, who tossed the ceremonial first pitch to former teammate and current Shark James Steindl. Svete was the starter and winning pitcher in the NEC Championship game in 2018.