April 25, 2004

Box Score

BROOKLYN, NY - Senior hurler Chuck Ristano allowed just one earned run in 8 2/3 innings of work and junior Curtis Lewsey blasted his second home run of the season to lead Sacred Heart University to a 4-3 win over Long Island University on Sunday and help the Pioneers salvage one game in the weekend series.

Sophomore Matt Martino looped a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning for the last of his three RBI for the Blackbirds, but it was not enough as Long Island had its four-game winning streak snapped.

With LIU, 7-25 overall and 5-13 in the NEC, trailing 4-1 entering the ninth, senior Anthony Valvano laced a one-out single up the middle and junior Christopher Brescia reached on an error by third baseman Brian Rojee. After junior Thomas Bennett flied out, Martino hit one that just eluded right fielder Ed Marotta to score two runs.

Adam Dinihanian came on in relief of Ristano and gave up an infield single to freshman Robert Rowen, sending freshman pinch runner Marcus Wynn to third. But sophomore Richard "Trey" Bell hit a liner right at first baseman Jamie Schilkowski for the final out.

The Pioneers, 6-30, 4-10, opened the scoring in the fourth when Lewsey homered off freshman starter Ryan Ekberg just inside the left-field foul pole. They added another in the fifth when Anthony Diaz crossed home as Josh Enos was tagged out on a double steal.

Sacred Heart got two huge insurance runs in the seven on a two-run single by Jason Maiella for a 4-0 lead. LIU got on the board in the bottom of the inning on Martino's sacrifice fly to center, scoring Valvano.

Ristano (2-6) allowed three runs -- one earned -- and eight hits over 8 2/3 innings with three strikeouts before Dinihanian recorded his first save of the year. Maiella and Pete Kandybowicz had two hits apiece.