RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Seven unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning erased LIU Brooklyn's 8-2 lead and lifted Manhattan to a 9-8 victory over the Blackbirds in non-conference softball action on Thursday. LIU pounded out a season-high 15 hits to help build its advantage but committed four errors, including three in the fateful inning, to fall to 11-20 on the season.

A two-run first inning by LIU Brooklyn, courtesy of a run-scoring double by senior Ariana Lopez and an RBI single by junior Kylie Mulholland, built an early lead for the visitors. Manhattan got a run back in the bottom of the inning, before Lopez struck again with a two-run home run to left field that put the score at 4-1.

The Blackbirds scored twice more in the third, as junior Kayla Gloady singled home a run and Lopez picked up her fourth RBI of the contest with a bases-loaded walk to boost LIU's advantage to 6-1. The following inning, Gloady continued the offensive onslaught as she ripped an RBI single down the left-field line to give the Blackbirds a 7-1 cushion.

A sacrifice fly by the Jaspers cut the advantage to 7-2, before Gloady's third straight run-scoring base hit put the score at 8-2 heading to the bottom of the sixth. The frame started inauspiciously for LIU Brooklyn, as consecutive errors put a pair on with nobody out. After a single up the middle loaded the bases, a throwing error on the play allowed the first run of the frame to score and pull Manhattan to within 8-3.

Reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year Elena Bowman was intentionally walked, and a fielder's choice to Mulholland where she cut the runner down at the plate put one out with the bases still loaded for Briana Matazinsky. Matazinsky, who had started the game as the pitcher and gave up LIU's first six runs, drilled a grand slam over the left-field wall to cut LIU's lead to just one at 8-7.

After a pitching change by the Blackbirds, Manhattan continued the rally with two walks and a single to load the bases again. With two outs, Emily Cutler lined a single into right field that pushed Manhattan on top for the first time all game at 9-8. From there, LIU went down in order in the top of the seventh as the Jaspers picked up the improbable comeback win.

LIU Brooklyn will return to action on Thursday, March 31 against Hofstra in its home opener at LIU Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.