2008 Woodie Awards
Baseball splits four-game series with Long Island
Pat Sullivan
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Sports
The Sacred Heart baseball team traveled to Brooklyn last weekend to take on the Long Island Blackbirds in a four game series and came away with a split, winning two and losing two.
The Pioneers won game one on Friday night with a 9-2 victory. The Pioneers had a five run sixth inning and scored two more each in the eighth and ninth innings.
"In game one we had solid pitching performances from junior Ryan Lynch and Jared Balbach along with some timely hitting and only one error," said head coach Nick Giaquinto.
Lynch and Balbach combined to hold the Blackbirds to seven hits and two runs while the Pioneers offense combined for 16 total hits.
In the eighth inning, Pioneer first baseman Tyler Santos smacked his fourth home run of the season to blow the game open and make the score 7-2.
In the ninth, junior Paul Schmidt tripled and scored on a Matt Fitton double. Fitton would later score to make it 9-2.
On Saturday, the Pioneers and Blackbirds played a double header, with LIU soming out on top in both games.
In the first game, the Pioneers were defeated by the score of 5-1.
Ryan Lynch connected for a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning to complete the scoring for the Pioneers.
A bright spot in game two was third baseman J.J. Edwards. Edwards went 2-3 with two singles.
"For me trying to stay consistent it is just all the hard work you have to put into the game to get the results you want out if it," said Edwards.
Edwards has been one of the most consistent hitters for the Pioneers. He is second on the team with a .300 batting average and third with in hits with 27.
"In order to get our team going on the right track, everyone has to put in the extra work. I just continue to work hard and get my swing in a place where it can help the team every game," said Edwards.
In the second game of the double header the Pioneers were beat down by the score of 12-5.
LIU got to starter Ryan Lynch early, posting a nine run second inning. Lynch was tagged for nine runs, six earned in 1.1 innings pitched.
In the last game on Sunday, the Pioneers jumped out to a 5-0 lead but had to hold on for a 10-9 victory.
"Game four was a total team effort with a few solid pitching performances including Wagoner's five solid innings and a gutsy performance by Balbach to get the last two outs," said coach Giaquinto.
Wagoner held the Blackbirds to one run with six strikeouts over five innings. However, LIU scored four runs in the ninth before Balbach came in and shut the door for the Pioneers.
With their two victories last weekend, the Pioneers' record improved to 4-26 overall and 2-6 in the NEC.
The Pioneers are home for their next seven games, four of which are against fourth placed Mt. Saint Mary's.
"The team started off struggling badly but after this weekend we played really well and it looks like were getting better each day. We feel that we still have a great opportunity to succeed in our conference this year," said Lynch.
The Pioneers won game one on Friday night with a 9-2 victory. The Pioneers had a five run sixth inning and scored two more each in the eighth and ninth innings.
"In game one we had solid pitching performances from junior Ryan Lynch and Jared Balbach along with some timely hitting and only one error," said head coach Nick Giaquinto.
Lynch and Balbach combined to hold the Blackbirds to seven hits and two runs while the Pioneers offense combined for 16 total hits.
In the eighth inning, Pioneer first baseman Tyler Santos smacked his fourth home run of the season to blow the game open and make the score 7-2.
In the ninth, junior Paul Schmidt tripled and scored on a Matt Fitton double. Fitton would later score to make it 9-2.
On Saturday, the Pioneers and Blackbirds played a double header, with LIU soming out on top in both games.
In the first game, the Pioneers were defeated by the score of 5-1.
Ryan Lynch connected for a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning to complete the scoring for the Pioneers.
A bright spot in game two was third baseman J.J. Edwards. Edwards went 2-3 with two singles.
"For me trying to stay consistent it is just all the hard work you have to put into the game to get the results you want out if it," said Edwards.
Edwards has been one of the most consistent hitters for the Pioneers. He is second on the team with a .300 batting average and third with in hits with 27.
"In order to get our team going on the right track, everyone has to put in the extra work. I just continue to work hard and get my swing in a place where it can help the team every game," said Edwards.
In the second game of the double header the Pioneers were beat down by the score of 12-5.
LIU got to starter Ryan Lynch early, posting a nine run second inning. Lynch was tagged for nine runs, six earned in 1.1 innings pitched.
In the last game on Sunday, the Pioneers jumped out to a 5-0 lead but had to hold on for a 10-9 victory.
"Game four was a total team effort with a few solid pitching performances including Wagoner's five solid innings and a gutsy performance by Balbach to get the last two outs," said coach Giaquinto.
Wagoner held the Blackbirds to one run with six strikeouts over five innings. However, LIU scored four runs in the ninth before Balbach came in and shut the door for the Pioneers.
With their two victories last weekend, the Pioneers' record improved to 4-26 overall and 2-6 in the NEC.
The Pioneers are home for their next seven games, four of which are against fourth placed Mt. Saint Mary's.
"The team started off struggling badly but after this weekend we played really well and it looks like were getting better each day. We feel that we still have a great opportunity to succeed in our conference this year," said Lynch.
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