BROOKLYN – After falling in game one 5-2 on Friday, the Sacred Heart baseball team responded with a doubleheader sweep of LIU Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon in Northeast Conference action. Pioneer pitching allowed just there earned runs in 14 innings, as SHU took game one 2-1 before pulling away for a 6-1 victory in the game two. Sacred Heart has now five of its past six to move to 11-19-1, and has started NEC play 5-2. LIU drops to 12-22 and 5-6 in league action.

Robbie Maguire and Dan Wertz combined to allow only one run in the opener before Jesus Medina and James Cooksey gave up just two in the nightcap. Maguire and Cooksey earned the wins, while Wertz picked up his second save of 2015.

It was a balanced offensive attack for SHU, who outhit the Blackbirds 8-5 in both contests, as six players had two hits. Zack Short was the lone Pioneer with multiple RBI's, all coming in the nightcap on two home runs. Victor Sorrento also homered for the first run of game one, while Dan Schock's first career collegiate home run turned out to be the game-winner in game two. Along with Short, Anthony Capozziello scored twice to go along with his two hits.

Game One

 Two second innings runs were all the Pioneers would need, as Maguire went the first five plus innings in the victory, allowing just the one run on three hits to win his second straight conference game and improve to 2-3. He then gave way to Wertz for the final six outs, who gave up just two in two scoreless innings en route to the save.

Sorrento's led off the second with a home run to left center before Alex Perry's two out, RBI infield single drove in Anthony Capozziello for the eventual game winner. Capozziello had reached with a one out double to left center.

Capozziello had two hits in game one, along with Medina and Jayson Sullivan. Sullivan also stole two bases. M. Hernandez went 2-3 for Brooklyn, while B. Webb drove in D. Paiotti for LIU's only run of the game. B. Maxwell threw all seven innings in earning the loss, allowing eight hits and just those two runs.

Just one Blackbird reached scoring potion against Maguire, coming in his final complete inning of work in the fifth. The senior worked around a leadoff single as well as a two out single to keep the two run lead. He gave way to Wertz after walking the first hitter he faced in the sixth. Wertz struck out his first batter in relief before a double gave LIU Brooklyn runners on second and third with one outs. This led to the SHU lead being cut in half on a RBI groundout.  With a runner on third and two outs, Wertz induced a groundout to keep the Pioneers in front heading into the final frame. Wertz allowed a one out base hit in the seventh, but that was all as he retired the final two hitters to secure the win.

Game Two 

Short's first home run put the Pioneers on top 2-0 in top of the third, as it scored Ted Shaw, who had led off the frame with a single. Those two runs held strong for starter Jesus Medina, who allowed just one hit through the first three innings, until the bottom of the fourth. The lone blemish to the Pioneer pitching staff in game two was a game tying, two run home run over the right field fence by Jakubowski, which plated Paiotti, who had drawn a lead off walk.

After neither team could generate a run in the fifth, it was Schock's home run to lead off the sixth that broke the tie and proved to be the game winner. The freshmen had come on to pinch hit in the third. Sacred Heart then added to its lead when consecutive singles from Keith Klebart and Jake Friar put runners on the corners with one out for Kenny Byram. The senior extended the lead with a RBI squeeze bunt.

Short provided some insurance in the seventh with his second homer of the afternoon. Capozziello then kept the inning alive with a two out walk, and reached second on a wild pitch. Klebart's second straight single brought him home, pushing the advantage to 6-2.

A one out double was all LIU could put together in the seventh, as Cooksey did not allow any further damage. It was the third straight scoreless inning for the reliever, who with the win improved to a team best 4-1. Medina went the first four giving up just the two runs and allowing only three hits.

Just as had happened in game one, no Blackbird had more than one hit. Starter M. Hernandez picked up the loss after allowing the four earned over six innings.

SHU will look to capture its second consecutive series win to open Northeast Conference play in the finale tomorrow at 1 pm.