HACKENSACK, N.J. — The Long Island University softball team (10-24, 9-0 NEC) completed its third consecutive series sweep to begin NEC play on Sunday, taking down FDU in a doubleheader by scores of 10-5 and 10-1 on Sunday.
The Sharks came out swinging in the opening game of Sunday's double header, scoring five runs across the first two innings; junior Jaedyn Lincoln opened scoring with an RBI double, while sophomore Samantha Gallegos followed with a two-RBI double in the next at-bat. Sophomore Hannah Burnett followed with another RBI double in the top of the first, while junior Lily Hinkle delivered a solo home run to right field in the top of the second inning.
While FDU answered with a solo homer of its own in the bottom of the second, junior Jen Rodriguez put LIU ahead 7-1 with a two-RBI single in the bottom of the fourth. Senior Nyae' Villalta capped scoring in the bottom of the fourth with a steal of home, putting LIU ahead 8-1.
Following three-run bottom of the fifth for FDU, the Sharks added another run in the top of the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly by Gallegos, while Villalta later scored again while sophomore Ava Fairbanks was caught in a rundown. LIU eventually claimed a 10-5 victory over the Knights in the first game of the doubleheader.
Hinkle led LIU with two hits in the win, while Gallegos totaled three RBI. Villalta stole a team-high two bases in the first game of the doubleheader, while senior Gigi Clavel earned her fourth win of the season, pitching four innings and surrendering six hits, four earned runs, and striking out four Knights.
LIU started hot again in Sunday's nightcap, taking a 9-0 lead after three innings; Rodriguez opened scoring with an RBI single in the top of the first, while Gallegos followed with another sacrifice fly. Villalta capped off the first inning scoring by scoring off another rundown.
Hinkle hit her second homer of the day with a three-run shot in the top of the second inning, while Gallegos followed with a solo home run in the top of the third inning to put LIU ahead 7-0. Later in the third, senior Devon Medina delivered a two-RBI single up the right side to give LIU its nine-run lead.
A sacrifice fly by Burnett in the top of the fourth put LIU ahead by double digits, though FDU scratched across its first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Hinkle responded in the top of the fifth with a sacrifice fly, putting LIU ahead for its eventual 11-1 final score.
Hinkle, Medina, and Rodriguez tied for a team-high two hits in the win, while Hinkle led the Sharks with four RBI. In the circle, Sarah Wall earned the win with four innings pitched, striking out five batters with four hits and one earned run.
LIU returns to action for a standalone game on Wednesday, April 1, at 3 p.m. against Iona University.
