BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn softball team won its 14th Northeast Conference title and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with a victory over Robert Morris on Saturday afternoon at LIU Field. The Blackbirds dropped the first game of Championship Saturday to the Colonials, 3-1, but bounced back for a 3-2 win to earn the league's bid into postseason play.

Sophomore Erynn Sobieski was named NEC Tournament MVP after picking up two wins and earning a save in the final game of the day, while senior Whitney West and junior Kylie Mulholland were named to the All-Tournament Team.

In the first game of the day, LIU struggled offensively against RMU starter Laura Coulter. The Blackbirds advanced just one base runner into scoring position over the first three innings as the contest continued to be scoreless throughout the period.

In the top of the fourth, RMU catcher Jordan Gurganus led off with a base hit and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, RMU's Haileigh Stocks lined a double to right center to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. 

LIU Brooklyn responded in the bottom of the sixth, as NEC Player of the Year Celinna Cosio lined a single to left to start the inning. Pinch runner Shelley Procter came in to run for Cosio and, two batters later after a stolen base and ground out, sophomore Angie Vazquez tied the contest at 1-1 with an RBI single.

The lead was shortlived, however, as Robert Morris scored twice in the top of the seventh on an RBI double from Ashley Gerhart and a run-scoring single from Abrielle McCartney. Down to their final at bat, the Blackbirds loaded the bases in the seventh but the Colonials worked out of trouble to force the seventh and final game.

A pitcher's duel between LIU Brooklyn freshman Tallie Woodson and RMU frosh Kaitlin Ellzy broke out in the second game of the day, and both pitchers kept the offenses off the board through the first five innings. With the Blackbirds as the away team in Game Two, junior Karlie Brady led off the sixth with a clutch bunt single to start the inning.

West followed with another bunt single to put two on with nobody out for senior Ariana Lopez. On a 1-0 offering from Ellzy, Lopez drilled a run-scoring single through the right side to tie the game at 1-1. A wild pitch and a sacrifice fly from Cosio bumped the margin to 3-0 heading to the bottom the sixth. 

Both teams went scoreless over the next three half innings, setting the stage for the final-game drama. With two outs and nobody on in the seventh and the Blackbirds leading, 3-0, Lorusso lined a double down the left-field line to put a runner in scoring position. Another double, this time from McCartney, drove in a run and put the score at 3-1.

Sobieski returned to attempt to pick up the save and promptly allowed another run-scoring single from Stacey Capp that brought RMU to within one run at 3-2. But Sobieski bore down, inducing a ground ball to short at Gloady to close the Tournament title.

LIU will find out where it goes for NCAA Regionals on Sunday, April 15 at 10:00 p.m. on ESPNNews.