BROOKLYN – Despite holding a 9-6 advantage in hits, the Sacred Heart baseball team returned to Northeast Conference action with a 5-2 loss at LIU Brooklyn on Friday afternoon. The loss snaps a three game winning streak for the Pioneers, who are now 9-19-1 and 3-2 in conference play. LIU improves to 11-19 and moves over .500 in the NEC at 5-4.

Ted Shaw and Zack Short each went 2-4 with a RBI in the loss. Jayson Sullivan both of SHU's runs while going 1-2 with two walks. Jason Foley was tabbed with the loss, allowing four earned runs over six innings of six hit ball while striking out nine. Dan Wertz and James Cooksey each threw an inning of hitless relief.

C. Misiano was the only Blackbird with multiples hits, going 2-4 with two RBI's and a run scored. B. Drapeau scattered nine hits over 7.2 innings, giving up just the two runs, while D. Carlson came on for the final four outs without allowing a hit for the save.

It was the Pioneers who got on the board first, with Short doubling home Sullivan with two outs in the top of the first. Sullivan had singled to keep the inning alive. LIU Brooklyn came right back to erase the deficit in the bottom half though, as Misiano got the inning started with a leadoff single. After a sacrifice bunt and stolen base, he came around to score on a strikeout and ensuing wild pitch.

The game ultimately was decided in the bottom of the second. B. Webb first homered over the left field fence to put the Blackbirds ahead. A two out single and walk then kept the inning alive for Misiano, who drove in what proved to be the game winning RBI's on a double to right field, giving LIU the 4-1 lead. Brooklyn added its final run of the game in its next at bat, as once again a leadoff single turned out to lead to a run. Following that single, an error put runners on first and third with one out, allowing M. Hernandez's RBI groundout to extend the advantage to 5-1.

From that point on, LIU Brooklyn would record just one hit for the remainder of the afternoon, advancing just two runners to second base. Sacred Heart looked to take advantage in the sixth, as Ted Shaw singled home Sullivan with two outs. Anthony Capozziello then walked to load the bases, but Drapeau got out of his biggest threat of the game by fanning the next hitter.

The Pioneers also advanced runners to scoring position in each of the final three innings, only to come away with no runs. Jesus Medina led off with a single and eventually reached third in the seventh, but again Drapeau retired the third out of the inning, this time on a fly out. The best chance came in the eighth, as Shaw singled with one out, and Matt Charmello came on for a pinch hit single with two outs. After Shaw advanced to third on the single, Charmello then read the throw to take second. This time it was Carlson getting the final out, coming on in relief of Drapeau to induce an inning ending pop out. SHU threatened one last time in its last at bat thanks to back-to-back walks by Sullivan and Short. Carlson clamed down to secure the save though, striking out the next batter to end the game.

The two teams continue their four game series tomorrow in Brooklyn with a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 1 pm.