LORETTO, Pa. — The LIU softball team got off on the right foot in the NEC Tournament on Thursday.

The second-seeded Sharks defeated third-seeded Central Connecticut State, 4-2, in their opening game of the double-elimination tourney.

LIU advances in the winners' bracket to face fourth-seeded Merrimack on Friday at 10 a.m., while host Saint Francis U and CCSU will follow with an elimination game.

On Thursday, LIU built a 4-0 lead as Alyssa Okada scored on a nifty slide on Gabby Padilla's single in the third and Alyssa Polemeni produced a three-run double an inning later.

Lindsey Cowans tossed a complete game, surrendering only a two-run homer to Paige Stringer in the fifth.

"We've been working all season for this, so we're ready," Cowans said. "We're here. "

Cowans had particular success with her offspeed pitch.

"When I can get that pitch low and get them biting on it, seeing a change of pace, it's big," she said.