FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After a rough start Saturday, the LIU softball team bounced back Sunday in a big way, taking two from Sacred Heart on the road to finish the weekend with a 2-2 split in their first Northeast Conference weekend. LIU won the first game, 6-5, and the second game 4-0.
 
GAME ONE
The Sharks staved off a late rally by the Pioneers after going up early. LIU scored all six of their runs in to the top of the sixth inning.
 
After Kiana Cisneros led off with a single, and stole second, freshman Dallas Andrews singled and senior Katie Hinkle walked to load the bases with one out. An SHU error would score the first run for the Sharks, and senior Patricia Griffin brought two more runs home with her single to center field. But it was senior Ciara Granado who would put the Sharks over the top, as she hit her first home run of the season, bringing two runners home, and putting LIU up, 6-0.
 
Sacred Heart would score three runs in the bottom of the third, and added two more in the bottom of the sixth, threatening a come from behind win. But with one out and a runner on second, the Sharks got two outs, ending the inning and SHU's hopes of a comeback. Another two out double in the bottom of the seventh gave the Pioneers hope, but after an intentional walk by Victoria Lowe, she got the last batter to strike out, and LIU clinched the win, 6-5.
 
Lowe got her first win on the mound, pitching the last five innings, while freshman Kira Buckner pitched the first two innings, giving up just one hit.
 
GAME TWO
The Sharks jumped out to an early lead in game two. Griffin led off with a single, and Camryn Lyman reached on an error. After a walk loaded the bases, Alina Castillo was hit by a pitch, and a run walked in. With two outs, freshman Dallas Andrews had a single to center field that would score one more run, and Ryleigh Bermea was also hit by a pitch to make it 3-0 Sharks.
 
SHU would threaten in the bottom of the fifth, when two baes runners stole second and third, but the Sharks were able to get an out at home plate to stop the run, and got the next two outs to escape the inning.
 
LIU added one more run in the top of the sixth. Cisneros led off with a double, and Bermea walked. A single from Hinkle loaded the bases with one out, and on the next at bat, Cisneros would score when SHU went for the out at second. Griffin reached on the fielder's choice RBI, and LIU was up, 4-0.
 
Senior Tallie Woodson (1-0) got the win on the mound, pitching the complete game shutout. She gave up just three hits over 7.0 innings, while striking out five.
 
Up next, the Sharks host FDU at home for two double headers, Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28.