WAPPINGER FALLS, N.Y. — The landmark 2024 season for the LIU Sharks will extend to the NCAA Division I baseball tournament as they scored seven runs in the top of the ninth to take down Sacred Heart, 11-6, to win the NEC Tournament championship.
Seth Surrett continued to be the catalyst for the Sharks, starting the championship game off with a single.
Jake Mastillo brought him home with an RBI knock to give LIU the early 1-0 edge.
Sacred Heart responded with three runs in the first two innings, and Mastillo picked up another RBI with a fielder's choice in the bottom half of the third to make it 3-2 in favor of the Pioneers.
After Sacred Heart extended the lead to 5-2, Surrett came through in the top of the sixth with a two-run single to put the Sharks on the Pioneers' heels.
Trailing by one and down to their last three outs,
Benjamin Fierenzi started the top half of the ninth with a base hit. Mastillo followed with a single of his own and LIU suddenly had two runners on with nobody out.
With one out,
JC Navarro played the role of hero again with an RBI single to right to tie the score, 5-5, and keep LIU's season alive. This all led to
Jack Power ripping a base hit to left to score Mastillo and put the Sharks ahead 6-5.
Noah Sorensen padded LIU's lead with a two-run double to right, while Fierenzi tacked on three more with a single and a miscue by the defense to make it 11-5.
Junior
Noah Tabaie kept the Sharks in the game with three shutout innings en route to picking up the victory.
Jack VanDoran came on to get the final three outs and seal the title for LIU.
Surrett, who was named NEC Tournament MVP, ended up 3-for-5 with three runs, two RBI, a walk and an intentional walk. He finished the tournament going 7-for-20 with nine runs scored, five RBI, a stolen base and six walks, tormenting opposing defenses with his patience and speed.
Fierenzi finished the contest 4-for-6 with two RBI while Mastillo and Sorensen also drove in two.
This NEC title marks the second for the Sharks under decorated manager
Dan Pirillo, which is also the second since their inception into Division I in 2019.
LIU most recently won the conference in 2022, advancing to the NCAA Division I baseball tournament where they competed against the University of Maryland and Wake Forest.
The 2024 NCAA Division I college baseball selection show is set for Monday, May 27, at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPNU. LIU will learn information about its group play pool for Regionals (May 31-June 3) during the show. Further details will be shared at a later date.
