LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. – It was another dramatic day for the Long Island University softball team at the Golden State Classic Saturday. The Sharks (4-5) split the day, falling to the University of San Diego 3-0 in the first game, and beating Loyola Marymount, 6-5 on a walk-off in the eighth inning in the second game of the day.
USD 3, LIU 0
The first game of the day was a pitcher's duel, as neither hurler would give up a single earned run. San Diego pitcher Madison Earnshaw threw a no-hitter, limiting the Sharks' offense, while LIU sophomore
Elena Valenzuela (0-3) had the loss, despite giving up zero earned runs in 7.0 innings pitched.
The loss was a little bit brutal, as San Diego would score the winnings runs with two outs in the top of the seventh. A single and a walk had two Toreros on base. With two outs, a bunt single resulted in an error that would score the first run of the night, putting USD up, 1-0. And on the next at bat, an RBI single up the middle brought home two more, and the Toreros led, 3-0.
Earnshaw stayed steady in the bottom of the seventh, forcing three groundouts, and ending the game in favor of San Diego, 3-0.
LIU 6, LMU 5 (8 inn.)
The second game of the day was an extra innings thriller, as LIU would rally from behind to force the extended time. The Lions went up early in the game, using two singles and an RBI double to take the 1-0 advantage in the top of the first. LMU would add another run with two outs in the top of the second to go up, 2-0.
The Sharks got on board in the bottom of the second. With one out, junior
Ciara Granado had a single to get on, and she was advanced by
Ryleigh Bermea's sacrifice bunt. Junior
Victoria Lowe got LIU on the board when on the first pitch she saw, she doubled to center field to make it 2-1. Freshman
Alexis Toledo was up next, and singled up the middle to score Lowe and tie it up, 2-2.
In the next inning, the two teams stayed matched, run for run. LMU added two more runs to the board in the top of the frame, 4-2, only to see LIU score on two RBI walks in the bottom of the inning to tie it back up, 4-4. Each team also added a run in the fifth. LIU's was driven by sophomore
Samantha Garcia's leadoff double, and the run scored on Toledo's RBI single, which made it 5-5.
Neither team would score in the next two innings, forcing the teams to go to extra frames. Lowe, who pitched the final five innings of the night, locked LMU down, despite the runner placed on second. She forced a line out, a fly out and a groundout to retire the Lions with just 12 pitches, giving the Sharks a chance at the walk-off win.
And her teammates did not disappoint. With Toledo placed on second and advanced on a ground out, it was junior
Alina Castillo who won the game for LIU. Castillo singled up the middle with enough juice to bring Toledo home, and the Sharks took the walk-off win, 6-5.
Lowe (2-0) had the win on the mound, as she pitched 5.0 innings, striking out three, and giving up just one run on four hits.
Alexis Toledo was an offensive highlight for LIU, as she went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Senior
Patricia Griffin was 3-for-4 at the plate, while junior
Ciara Granado was 2-for-4.
Up next, LIU (4-5) will take on UC Davis in the final outing of the Golden State Classic, Sunday, February 16 at 12 p.m. ET.
