WAPPINGER FALLS, N.Y. — After erasing an early three-run deficit, LIU fell to top-seeded Sacred Heart, 8-6, in NEC Tournament play at Heritage Financial Park, home to the Hudson Valley Renegades, the minor-league affiliate of the New York Yankees.  

Jake Mastillo put the Sharks on top 1-0 in the first inning with an RBI single that featured an acrobatic slide from Seth Surrett.  The Pioneers answered in the bottom half of the second with four runs highlighted by an RBI triple from John Greene. 

Surrett continued his impressive NEC Tournament play with an RBI single in the top of the fourth, and after a Benjamin Fierenzi RBI single cut the lead to one, the Sharks tied the score with a double-steal attempt that ended with Surrett crossing home plate before an out was recorded. 

Sacred Heart responded quickly in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI triple from Alex Ungar, followed by a run-scoring single from Ty Galletti to put the Pioneers ahead 6-4.

A solo home run from Senior Carlton Harper brought LIU some momentum, but Sacred Heart tacked on two more runs to make it 8-5 heading into the top of the ninth.

LIU showed its resilience as JC Navarro doubled home Mastillo in the ninth and slashed the deficit to two. Pioneers reliever Owen MacDonnell was able to get out of trouble to pick up the save.

Surrett finished the game 2-for-5 with two runs scored, an RBI and a steal, while Navarro also went 2-for-5 racking up two doubles. Jacob Pipercic contributed by going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a steal. 

The Sharks sit one win away from the NEC title picture, but also one loss away from elimination. They will play the winner of Wagner vs. Merrimack that concludes this evening. 

First pitch for that elimination matchup is set for Saturday, May 25, at 12 p.m. ET. The winner of that game will play Sacred Heart, who they have to beat twice in two days to take home the conference title.

The first game of the NEC championship is scheduled for Saturday, May 25, at 4 p.m. ET, with a potential deciding-game tapped for Sunday, May 26, at 12 p.m. ET, if necessary.

All of the NEC action can be found on NEC Front Row and ESPN+.