Yaphank, NY – Senior right-hander Kody Kerski's (Waterbury, CT) complete game shutout in game one fueled a Sacred Heart doubleheader sweep of the Cornell Big Red Saturday afternoon at Baseball Heaven on Long Island. The Pioneers defeated the Big Red 3-0 in game one and then 5-3 in game two. SHU is now 7-8 on the season.

Kerski was magnificent in game one, striking out nine and scattering just four hits against a Cornell lineup that scored 47 runs in a three-game series last weekend against James Madison. Kerski was electric out the gate, striking out five in the first two innings alone. 

Keith Klebart (Orange, CT) drilled a two out RBI double down the left field line to score Conor McEvoy (Watertown, CT) to give SHU a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning.

Dan Perez (Seymour, CT) then came around to score on a Ted Shaw (Southington, CT) infield hit to add to the SHU lead in the seventh inning.

SHU added one more insurance run in the eighth as Perez hit a sacrifice fly to shallow left field to score Jayson Sullivan (Charlton, NY).

The Pioneers got into some trouble with two outs in the ninth, but Kerski struck out senior Chris Cruz with runners on first and second to end the game.

In game two, Jeff Stoddard (Branford, CT) gave up three runs in 5.1 innings to earn his second win of the season. Junior Dan Wertz (Cross River, NY) came on in relief to get the game's final five outs and notch his second save of the season.

Flying high off the game one win, the Pioneers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of game two. Klebart struck again with two outs, knocking a base hit to center field with the bases loaded. Byram who led off the inning with a bunt hit, and Zack Short (Hurley) who singled to left field, both scored on the play.  

Cornell stormed back with six hits in the top of the second inning and took its first lead of the afternoon. Ryan Karl, Ben Swinford, and JD Whetsel all knocked RBI singles as Cornell grabbed a 3-2 lead.

Sacred Heart tied the game back up in the bottom half of the inning. Keaton Flint (Charlton, NY) led off the inning with a walk, while Kenny Byram (Ponte Vedra, FL) knocked a base hit to make it first and second with one out. After a double steal put two in scoring position, a Jesus Medina (New York, NY) ground out knotted the score at three.

The Pioneers re-took the lead in the fourth inning as Short smacked a RBI single to center field to score Byram from second base. Byram singled to left field and then stole second to get into scoring position. Short came around to score on a Cornell error and the Pioneers were up 5-3.

Wertz came in and immediately got Matt Hall to ground into a 6-4-3 double play and then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to clinch the sweep.

Sacred Heart and Cornell are back at it tomorrow for another doubleheader at MCU Park in Brooklyn.