Baseball Player Magazine

MANHATTAN, Kan. – After being edged 3-0 in a pitcher’s duel in the first game of a doubleheader at Kansas State, the Long Island University baseball team got off to a quick start in game two to earn a split with a 4-2 victory. Shortstop Drew Walsh drove in three runs in the win over the Wildcats.

Long Island took advantage of a brief but wild outing from Kansas State starter Justin Lindsey, scoring three runs in the first inning of a seven-inning game. Lindsey walked leftfielder Pete Leonello and centerfielder Sam Sciamarelli to start the game. After Leonello advanced to third on a passed ball and Sciamarelli stole second, catcher Tyler Jones drew a walk to load the bases. Walsh then doubled down the right-field line to spot the Blackbirds a 2-0 lead. Designated hitter Matt Molbury then reached on an error, allowing Jones to score, chasing Lindsey from the game.

The three-run lead would be more than enough for Long Island righthander Justin Topa, who allowed one run in six innings of work. Topa gave up four hits and three walks while fanning two en route to improving to 2-1 for the season. He allowed a lead-off double in the third to Chase Graskewicz, who scored on a sacrifice fly by Jared King.

Sophomore Evan Zerff notched his second save despite allowing a run in the seventh. Lindsey, who did not record an out, took the loss, falling to 2-1. He allowed three runs on one hit and four walks.

In the first game of the day, sophomore lefthander Matt McCormick did not allow a hit until the sixth inning and was saddled with a hard-luck loss. McCormick gave up the first hit for either team in bottom of the sixth when Dan Klein hit a grounder to second base where Brad Greve made a sharp play to snag the ball but Klein beat the throw to first. After moving to second on a sacrifice bunt, Klein strayed too far off the base and was picked off by McCormick. McCormick dodged a bullet when Tanner Will hit a fly ball to center that was dropped by Sciamarelli, which would have allowed Klein to score. Will moved to third on a wild pitch and Jared King drew a walk to put runners on the corners but McCormick got Nick Martini to ground out to escape the jam.

Jason King greeted McCormick in the seventh with a home run to lead off the inning, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Mike Kindel followed with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before moving to third on a groundout by pinch hitter Ross Kivett. Kindel scored when Klein reached on an error by third baseman Diego Perez.

Kansas State starter Matt Applegate took a no-hitter into the ninth inning. After getting Sciamarelli to ground out, Jones laced a single into center field to end the no-hit bid and chase Applegate from the game. James Allen came on in relief and got Walsh to ground into a fielder’s choice and first baseman Tito Marrero to ground out to end the game.

McCormick (0-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks. He struck out three. Applegate (3-1) gave up just the one hit over 8 1/3 frames, fanning six while walking three and hitting a batter. Allen recorded his fourth save.

Extra bases. Jones extended his hitting streak to seven games with his single in the first game and stretched it to eight games with a triple in the fifth inning of game two… Walsh drove in Jones with a single for his third RBI of the game… In the first game, Walsh had a five-game hitting streak halted… Redshirt freshman Bryan Saffelle gave up a run in relief in the eighth inning of game one… Long Island is 4-6 after the split; Kansas State is 11-3... The teams will wrap up their four-game series on Sunday, March 13 at 1:00 p.m Eastern.