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Baseball Blanks LIU, 4-0
April 10, 2003
BRIDGEPORT, CT - Junior pitcher Chuck Ristano (Valley Stream, NY) scattered eight hits over nine innings, and first baseman Jamie Schilkowski (Shelton, CT) drove home the only run he would need with a double in the sixth to lead Sacred Heart University to a 4-0 win over visiting Long Island University in a Northeast Conference baseball battle Thursday. The win snapped a six-game losing streak for the Pioneers, now 7-15 overall and 3-5 in the conference.
LIU freshman starting pitcher Francis Leahy (Brooklyn, NY) had a no-hitter for the first 5 2/3. With two outs in the sixth, SHU freshman outfielder Anthony Diaz (Middletown, NY) lined a single to right field. Schilkowski followed with a sinking liner to left and Blackbird left fielder Matt Martino (Staten Island, NY) tried to make a diving catch running to his right. The ball tipped off his glove and rolled to the wall, allowing Diaz to score from first.
Those two hits in the sixth were the only two the Pioneers would get the rest of the game. They did score three more runs in the seventh, however, without the benefit of a hit. Freshman shortstop Tim Lantz (New Rochelle, NY) led off the inning with a walk. Freshman Dave Kaloyanides (Reading, MA) laid down a bunt and Blackbird catcher Tom Bennett threw to second trying to get Lantz, but he beat the throw to put two on with no outs.
SHU catcher Chris Vartuli was next and he surprised the LIU defense by laying down a bunt with two strikes. Bennett again tried to get the lead runner, but his throw sailed over the third baseman's head and Lantz scored. Sophomore Andrew Cutrone followed with another bunt, which was fielded by Leahy who threw to first to get the out. Jason Maiella (N. Haddon, NJ) then bounced a grounder to short. The Blackbirds threw home to try to get Kaloyanides at the plate, but a slide to the back part of the plate around Bennett allowed him to beat the tag and make it 3-0. Greg Delmonico (Brewster, NY) then lofted a sacrifice fly to right that scored Vartuli with the Pioneer's third run of the inning.
Ristano, who threw 122 pitches in the game, retired the last six hitters he faced, including the side in order in the ninth. He struck out ten without issuing a walk and is now 2-1 on the season.
Junior Stephen Echevarria (Bronx, NY) and senior Mike Thompson (Haddon Twp., NJ) each had a pair of hits for the Blackbirds, now 9-11 overall and 4-4 in the Northeast Conference.
