BOX SCORE
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Brooklyn, NY - Long Island scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning en route to a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Wagner in the second game of a doubleheader at the LIU Field. In defeat the Seahawks fall to 7-15 and 5-5 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) while the Blackbirds improve to 12-10 and 4-2 in the league.

Wasted in defeat was the stellar pitching of senior RHP Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown). The hard-throwing righthander has now picked up two-straight no-decisions despite posting a 1.50 ERA in 12.0 innings over that time. Today Lucas yielded just two runs and four hits with four strikeouts over 6.0 solid innings.

Wagner jumped in front right away for the second-straight game, scoring a single run in the top of the first inning. Senior Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) drew a one-out walk before moving to second on this Kevin McDonnell (Bristol, CT / Avon Old Farms) single up the middle. After Boyd got picked off and McDonnell moved to second, junior Tommy Higgins (Port Monmouth, NJ / Red Bank Catholic) picked up Boyd with this two-out, run-scoring single that scored McDonnell.

LIU got that run back in the bottom part of the inning with a two-out rally. Tyler Jones drew a walk before Drew Walsh singled him to third. Tito Marrero followed with a single to right field, chasing home Jones while tying the game up at 1-1.

The score stayed that way until the top of the fourth inning when Higgins deposited this solo home run over the left field fence. Higgins' solo blast was just the second by a Seahawk in 22 games this season and the third of his career. The Seahawks continued to attack, adding two more runs in the fourth.

Senior Joe Conforti (Staten Island, NY / Farrell) followed the solo home run with a single. Conforti then advanced all the way to third on senior Jack Rice's (Middlesex, NJ / Immaculata) sacrifice bunt when the pitcher's throw to second sailed into center field. Conforti scored on the ensuing play when sophomore Nick Alfano's (Coral Springs, FL / North Broward Prep) tdropped a picture-perfect sacrifice bunt, extending the lead to 3-1. Later in the inning with sophomore Gaby Ramirez (San Juan, Puerto Rico / Perkiomen (PA)) at first and Rice at third and two outs, Ramirez got hung up in a rundown between first-and-second, allowing Rice to steal home

The Blackbirds got one of those runs back in the bottom part of the fourth. Jones and Walsh each drew walks, giving LIU a two-on, no out situation. Lucas then induced a 6-4-3 double play before Matt Molbury singled up the middle, scoring Jones while closing the deficit to 4-2.

After allowing a single to the next batter, Lucas buckled down and set down the final seven batters he faced in order, including retiring the side in order in each of the fifth and sixth innings.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, LIU scored the aforementioned three runs on the strength of four hits and a shaky Wagner defense. Molebury led off with a single before pinch runner Stan Simmons moved him to second on a ground out. Albert Faz followed with a pinch-hit single, advancing Simmons to third. On the ensuing play, senior LHP David Rees (Staten Island, NY / Xavier) induced what appeared to be a game-ending double play only to have Boyd's relay throw bounce pass Rice, allowing Simmons to score and Brad Greve to advance to second. Pete Leonello followed with a game-tying single up the on a full-count offering, plating Greve. Sam Sciamarelli then hit a high fly ball that McDonnell lost in the looping shadows, allowing the ball to drop as Leonello advanced to third. A balk was called on the next play, allowing Leonello to score and give the Blackbirds the 5-4 victory.

Leading the way for Wagner was Higgins, who went 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBI while McDonnell and Ramirez each notched two hits, highlighting a nine-hit performance for the Seahawks.

McDonnell and Boyd have now hit safely in eight-straight games while junior Hayden Hunter (Santa Monica, CA / Notre Dame) stretched his to seven in game one.

Rees (2-1) was the tough-luck losing pitcher, yielding three runs on four hits over 0.2 innings.

Molebury (2 hits) led the way for LIU while sophomore LHP Matt McCormick (2-1) earned the win, yielding four runs, two earned, on nine hits and walk with seven strikeouts over 7.0 innings.

The teams will conclude their series tomorrow with a 1:00 pm doubleheader.