QUEENS, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn softball team suffered a 9-1 loss to local rival St. John's on a dreary day that featured a steady rain and temperatures in the 40s at Red Storm Field. The Blackbirds mustered only three hits offensively against Tori Free, who struck out 11 batters in a complete-game victory for the Red Storm.

Control was a major issue for the LIU Brooklyn pitching staff, as six of the first nine batters for St. John's received free passes via bases on ball. Erin Burner delivered a two-run single in a four-run first inning to give the home team a 4-0 lead.

The Blackbirds got on the board in the top of the third, as junior Whitney West was hit by a pitch and eventually came around to score on an opposite-field double by freshman Angie Vazquez.

An RBI single by Savannah Warren re-upped the St. John's lead to 5-1, then a two-run fourth inning pushed the margin to six. Burner drove in her third run of the game in the frame with a home run over the right-centerfield fence.

LIU Brooklyn threatened in the sixth, as a pair of hit by pitches to juniors Celinna Cosio and Alyssa Gospodarek, and a walk to sophomore Nikki Schroeder loaded the bases. But St. John's pitcher Tori Free worked out of trouble with a ground ball to the left side.

In the bottom half, St. John's closed the game with a pair of runs as Burner drove home another with a base hit up the middle and the game-winning run came around to score on a single and an error.

LIU opens its home schedule and Northeast Conference play on Saturday, March 28 with a doubleheader at LIU Field against Central Connecticut. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.