BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The LIU softball team had another Northeast Conference sweep at home Friday afternoon at the LIU Softball Complex. The Sharks beat Merrimack in five innings in game one, winning 9-1, before taking game two, 11-9. Senior
Tallie Woodson had a win in game one, and a save in game two to steady the Sharks from the mound. With the wins, LIU moves to 11-3 in Northeast Conference play.
GAME ONE
- The Sharks would get on the board in the bottom of the first in game one. Ciara Granado had a two-out double to left center, and would score on the next at bat, when Alina Castillo singled to center field, 1-0.
- LIU added another in the third with one out. Junior Camryn Lyman walked and advanced ono a wild pitch. She came home on Granado's long single to center field, making it 2-0 Sharks.
- Merrimack got on the board in the fourth, scoring one run, but LIU would answer adding five runs to their total in the bottom of the frame. A bunt single by senior Katie Hinkle would bring home the first run, and after senior Patricia Griffin reached on an error, Lyman walked to load the bases. Granado would walk for another RBI, and then Alina Castillo hit a double to left center that make it 6-1 LIU.
- In the bottom of the fifth, Bermea would score on a defensive misfire by Merrimack, and then, with the bases loaded, Granado had her second RBI walk of the day to put LIU up, 8-1.
- The Sharks would win on a walk-off when pinch hitter Maya Avila singled through the left side to score Lyman, and LIU won in five innings, 9-1.
- Senior Tallie Woodson (5-1) got the win on the mound, pitching 5.0 innings, and giving up just one run on three hits. She struck out six in the complete game.
- Ciara Granado would finish 2-for-2 at the plate with three RBI and a run scored, while Alina Castillo was 2-for-3 with three RBI, and Dallas Andrews was 3-for-3.
GAME TWO
- The second game of the day was a high scoring affair. The Warriors would jump out to a 3-0 run in the top of the first, scoring on two hits and two sacrifices. But the Sharks answered in kind in the bottom of the inning.
- Griffin led off with a single, and a perfectly executed bunt single by Lyman put runners on the corners. Griffin would score ono an RBI single from Granado, and the next run scored with Castillo's double to left field. A walk would load the bases, and Angelina Reno got her first RBI of the day with a walk that made it 3-3. An error would score one more, and then Kristen Blanchard had an RBI groundout to make it 5-3 for the Sharks.
- Merrimack would tack on three more runs in the second to take the lead, 6-5, but again LIU answered in the bottom of the frame. With two outs, LIU would get a walk and back to back singles that brought home two runs. A wild pitch allowed freshman Dallas Andrews to score from third, and LIU led, 8-6.
- The Sharks added a run in the third, before Merrimack would tie it up, 9-9 in the top of the fifth.
- LIU would take the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth, when Kiana Cisneros had a triple that scored one run, and Reno drove in another run on a single, giving the home team an 11-9 lead.
- Reno finished the game going 2-for-3 at the plate with four RBI to lead the Sharsk
- Senior Tallie Woodson came in to close for the Sharks, and earned her second save of the season, as she held Merrimack hitless for 2.0 innings.
- Victoria Lowe had the win on the mound, pitching four innings.
Up next, the two teams resume the series, facing off for a second double header, Saturday, April 10 at 12 p.m.
