BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Long Island University softball team (23-30, 21-3 NEC) claimed its second consecutive NEC regular season title on Sunday, defeating Mercyhurst University 7-0 at the LIU Softball Complex in Brooklyn.
The Sharks opened Sunday's regular season finale on a strong note, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning with RBI by junior Jaedyn Lincoln and sophomore Samantha Gallegos for a 2-0 lead.
LIU scored two more runs in the bottom of the second inning, as sophomore Hannah Burnett and junior Kaylee Clarkson each hit solo home runs to extend the LIU lead to 4-0. Junior Jen Rodriguez stretched the lead to 5-0 with an RBI single three at-bats later.
A bases-loaded walk by senior Nyae' Villalta in the bottom of the fifth inning pushed the lead to 6-0, while Clarkson drove in her second run of the day on a fielder's choice in the next at-bat to give the game its 7-0 final score.
Rodriguez and Gallegos led the Sharks with two hits apiece, while Clarkson paced LIU with two RBI. Senior Sarah Wall earned her ninth win in the circle, pitching four innings with five hits allowed and one strikeout.
With the win, LIU secures its 14th NEC regular season championship in program, winning back-to-back titles for the first time since the 2009 and 2010 season, when LIU won four consecutive NEC titles (2007-10). LIU's 14 NEC titles are the most in NEC history.
Prior to Sunday's game, LIU honored its four-member senior class; seniors Gigi Clavel, Devon Medina, Villalta, and Wall.
The 2026 NEC Softball Tournament begins on Thursday, May 7. Top-seeded LIU will take on No. 4 seed Le Moyne College in the first round of the double elimination tournament. First pitch time has yet to be announced.
