Brooklyn, N.Y. (April 9, 2009)—Mount St. Mary's was swept in a Northeast Conference doubleheader at Long Island on Thursday afternoon. The Blackbirds rallied for a 4-3 victory in game one before taking the nightcap, 3-1. The Mount falls to 12-13 overall and 4-2 in the NEC with the losses.

In the opening game, Long Island (7-21, 3-3 NEC) rallied for the victory with three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

With a runner on first with two outs in the bottom of the eight, the Blackbirds rallied for three runs to take the lead. Frank DiMasi stole second and then scored on a Greg DeSantis double to cut the Mount's advantage to 3-2. After a walk to Derek Stupski put runners on first and second, the Mount summoned closer Mike Matta from the bullpen.

Matta walked Anthony Amatucci to load the bases and Julian Castro followed with a two run single to give the Blackbirds a 4-3 lead.

In the ninth, Matt Staso singled to open the frame and moved to second on a bunt, but John Slootmaker was able to keep Staso from scoring to earn the victory.

The Mount scored single runs in each of the first three innings to take the lead. In the first, Kyle Kane's RBI single scored Staso to give the Mount the early lead. Alex Andrews belted an RBI double in the second and Josh Winter added a sacrifice fly in the third for a 3-1 lead. The Blackbirds scored in the second on a Mount error.

Kane went 3-for-5 in the opening game while Staso added a pair of hits. Starting pitcher Costa Kapothanasis struck out three and allowed an unearned run in 5.2 innings of work. Max Brittenham took the loss, allowing three runs in two innings of relief.

In the second game, Julian Diaz struck out 10 while allowing just two hits and one run in six-plus innings to propel Long Island to the victory.

DiMasi and DeSantis each had RBI singles in the bottom of the fourth to give the Blackbirds a 2-0 advantage. Greg Tingos added a solo home run in the fifth to give LIU a three-run lead.

The Mount tried to rally in the ninth. Kane opened the inning with a hit batsman to put a runner on first base. Tingos was then summoned in relief for the Blackbirds and he was greeted with a double from Shane Eyler to put runners on second and third with no outs. Winter grounded out to short to plate Kane with the Mount's only run of the game. Tingos ended the rally by getting a pair of groundouts for his fourth save of the year.

The Mount's Brady Feigl struck out a career-high 11 batters while allowing three runs and six hits in the complete-game loss.

At the plate, Buddy Fields and Tommy Flynn each had a hit for the Mountaineers.

The teams will complete the four-game set with an 11:00 a.m. doubleheader tomorrow at LIU Field.