FORT MEYERS, Fla. – The Long Island University softball team opened the season in a big way Friday, beating the University of Connecticut in an extra innings walk-off, 2-1, before falling to Boston College, 2-1 and ending the day with a split.
 
LIU 2, UConn 1
In the first game of the day, senior Tallie Woodson led the team from the mound, as she pitched a complete game shutout, striking out five, while giving up just one walk.
 
The Sharks got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Kiana Cisneros had the first hit of the inning, singling through the left side. She was advanced when sophomore Samantha Garcia reached on an error, and made it to third on a wild pitch. In the next at bat, junior Alina Castillo brought her home with a single to left field, and the Sharks were on the board, 1-0.
 
The Huskies threatened in the top of the fifth, but the runner was called out at home, when senior Katie Hinkle made the play from left field. Neither team would get a runner in scoring position again until the top of the seventh inning. That was when UConn scored an unearned run with two outs, tying the game up, 1-1. The Sharks got one runner on in the bottom of the second, when junior Ryleigh Bermea singled up the middle, but the Huskies were able to get the third out, and the two teams went to extra innings.
 
Woodson was able to retire three straight in the top of the eighth, giving the Sharks a chance at the win. And in the bottom of the frame, her teammates took it. In the bottom of the eighth, senior Katie Hinkle was placed on second, and advanced by a sacrifice bunt from senior Patricia Griffin. The Huskies got a second out, and then walked junior Kiana Cisneros intentionally, putting runners on the corners. But the gamble didn't pay off: sophomore Samantha Garcia came to the plate, and hit a single down the right field line that would bring Hinkle home, and give the Sharks the walk off win, 2-1.
 
Senior Tallie Woodson (1-0) pitched a complete game shutout against the Huskies, walking just one batter in eight innings, and striking out five.
 
Boston College 2, LIU 1
In the second game of the day, LIU rode their momentum into the first inning against the Eagles, scoring right off the bat. Castillo had a one-out walk, and advanced to second when Cisneros had asingle to left field. Garcia was up next, and singled to load the bases. Sophomore Camryn Lyman came to the plate next, and hit into a fielder's choice, but the out was at third, and Castillo scored to put LIU up, 1-0.
 
The Eagles struck back in the bottom of the second, however. A leadoff single would eventually turn into a run when a BC player hit a homerun over the centerfield fence, giving the Eagles a 2-1 advantage. The rest of the game was mostly a pitcher's duel, as only two runners would make it to scoring position for the rest of the seven innings, and neither came home. Boston College (1-0) took the win, 2-1 over the Sharks.

Sophomore Elena Valenzuela (0-1) had the start, pitching a complete game for LIU. In 6.0 innings, she gave up just two runs, while striking out four.
 
UP NEXT
The Sharks continue play at the FGCU Kickoff Classic, taking on Georgetown and host FGCU at 3:45 and 8:15 p.m., Saturday, February 8.