BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Long Island University softball team (22-30, 20-3 NEC) swept Saturday's doubleheader against the Mercyhurst Lakers, claiming wins by scores of 9-8 and 4-3 at the LIU Softball Complex in Brooklyn.
Mercyhurst claimed an early 2-0 lead with a two-run home run in the first inning of Saturday's opening game, though the Sharks got a run back in the bottom of the same inning with an RBI double. A four-run bottom of the second inning, which featured RBI from sophomore Hannah Burnett, junior Kaylee Clarkson, junior Jen Rodriguez, and junior Jaedyn Lincoln, put the Sharks ahead 5-2.
LIU added another pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning, stretching the lead to 7-2 with back-to-back RBI singles by Clarkson and junior Lily Hinkle. While the Lakers scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning, the Sharks extended their lead to 9-4 with a two-run home run by senior Nyae' Villalta.
Mercyhurst put on a scare in the top of the seventh inning, scoring four runs to bring the game within one, but a fly out with the bases loaded ended the game in a 9-8 LIU victory.
Clarkson and Burnett tied for a team-high two hits in the win, while Clarkson, Rodriguez, and Villalta all led with two RBI apiece. Senior Sarah Wall earned her eighth win in the circle this season, while sophomore Ava Fairbanks earned her third save of the year.
The nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader was a close contest between the Sharks and Lakers, requiring extra innings.
LIU opened scoring with a sacrifice fly by Burnett for a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, though Mercyhurst quickly responded with a two-RBI double in the top of the third to take the lead.
The Sharks added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning to regain the lead over Mercyhurst, driven in by Hinkle and Rodriguez, before the Lakers tied the game at three in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single.
Neither team scored again until the bottom of the eighth inning, when Burnett delivered a walk-off hit to give the Sharks a 4-3 win over the Lakers, clinching LIU's seventh NEC series win of the season.
With the win, LIU clinched at least a share of the NEC regular season title for the second consecutive season. A win over the Lakers in Sunday's regular season finale will clinch an outright NEC title.
Lincoln led LIU with three hits in the win, while Burnett drove in a team-high two runs. Fairbanks earned her 10th win in the circle, pitching four innings with two hits surrendered, three walks, and three strikeouts.
First pitch between the Sharks and Lakers is at 12 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, in Brooklyn. Prior to the game, the Sharks will honor the four members of its senior class; senior Gigi Clavel, senior Devon Medina, Villalta, and Wall.
