LONGWOOD, Fla. – The LIU softball team had a big win Wednesday afternoon, beating Cleveland State, 8-6 in nine innings. The win was a historic one, as head Coach
Roy Kortmann recorded his 700
th career win at LIU. The Sharks improved to 12-12 on the season with the extra inning victory.
The Sharks would get on the board first in the top of the third inning. Junior
Ryleigh Bermea walked with one out, and sophomore
Angelina Reno got LIU on the board with her RBI double to center field. LIU added another run in the top of the fifth, when junior
Alina Castillo had an RBI double that scored Bermea again, to make it 2-0.
Cleveland State would get on the board in the bottom of the fifth, but LIU would add a run in the top of the seventh. The Sharks took advantage of an error and two walks, and a single from junior
Kiana Cisneros would give LIU a 3-1 lead.
But the Vikings would tie it up in the bottom of the frame to force extra innings. A two-out rally, including a double that would score two runs, tied the game up, 3-3.
The Sharks scored twice in the top of the eighth, on a double from Bermea and an RBI fielder's choice for Castillo, giving LIU a 5-3 lead. But again, the Vikings would tie it up in the bottom of the inning. This time, a two-run bomb over the left field fence knotted it up, 5-5.
LIU took the lead for good in the top of the ninth. A fielder's choice by sophomore
Samantha Garcia would score senior
Patricia Griffin, and a hit by pitched and an error would load the bases. Junior
Ciara Granado didn't let the opportunity go, hitting a double to left center field that would score two more runs, and put the Sharks on top, 8-5.
Cleveland State would add one run with one out in the bottom of the inning, but pitcher
Elena Valenzuela was able to get the next two outs, clinching the 8-6 victory for LIU.
Valenzuela (5-8) got the win on the mound, pitching 2.0 innings of relief, with two strikeouts and just one hit and one run. Senior
Tallie Woodson started for the Sharks, pitching 7.0 innings with three strikeouts.
Castillo and Granado both had two RBI for LIU in the win, while Cisneros and Bermea both went 2-for-3 at the plate.
Up next, the Sharks take on Northern Kentucky and Niagara, Thursday, March 12 at 2 and 4:30 p.m.