FORT MEYERS, Fla. – The LIU softball team wrapped up their first weekend of the season Saturday, finishing the FGCU Kickoff Classic with games against Kent State and Clemson. The Sharks fell to KSU, 1-0, before dropping an 8-0 decision to the Tigers.
KENT STATE 1, LIU 0
- The first game of the day was a pitching and defensive dual. Elena Valenzuela had the start on the mound, and pitched a complete game. The righty limited the Eagles to just eight hits against 31 batters faced, while striking out two. She also gave up no earned runs in the loss.
- Kent State scored in the sixth. A lead off single, an error and a double steal led to two runners in scoring position, and Kent State would capitalize with a two-out RBI single. The unearned run put the Eagles up, 1-0.
- The Sharks got a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the inning on a double from Ciara Granndo, but no one brought her home.
- Kent State starter Kylie Ringer held LIU to just five hits over 7.0 innings, clinching the shutout win on the mound.
CLEMSON 8, LIU 0
- The ACC's Tigers had two pitchers that limited the Sharks to just two hits over six innings.
- Sophomore pitcher Alyssa O'Donnell held Clemson scoreless for the first five innings of her start, holding them to just four hits in that span.
- The Tigers broke it open in the bottom of the sixth, capitalizing on two LIU errors, and registering four hits, including a walk-off two-run home run to take the 8-0 win.
Up next, the Sharks head to Arizona to take part in Grand Canyon's Purple Classic, February 17-19.
