LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. – The Long Island University softball team won its second straight game Sunday morning, capping the 2020 Golden State Classic with a 3-1 win over UC Davis. Junior Ryleigh Bermea clinched the win for the Sharks (5-5), with her three-run home run in the fourth inning. Sophomore Elena Valenzuela (1-4) had the complete game win on the mound for LIU.
 
Neither team would score until the top of the fourth, when both teams got on the board. Sophomore Camryn Lyman got the offense started, with a one-out single to left centerfield. That was followed by a double from junior Ciara Granado, that put two Sharks in scoring position. And then Bermea cleared the bases, hitting a home run to left center that put LIU up, 3-0.
 
UC Davis would score one run in the bottom of the inning, but LIU's defense wouldn't let them score again. In the bottom of the fifth, the Aggies threated, getting runners on second and third with just one out. But Valezuela got the next batter to strike out swinging on a ball in the dirt. Catcher Samantha Garcia made the play to get her out at first, and Granado threw the ball back to Garcia, who was able to tag the runner trying to score from third. The double play ended the inning, and LIU still had a two-run cushion.
 
Valenzuela was lights out for the final two innings, giving up just one hit, but letting no runners into scoring position again, as LIU clinched the 3-1 win. The sophomore pitched 7.0 innings, giving up just one run on five hits, while striking out three.
 
Up next, the Sharks return to Florida to take part in FAU's "Strikeout Cancer" Tournament, February 21-23.