BROOKLYN, N.Y. --- The first Northeast Conference (NEC) doubleheader of the season for the LIU Brooklyn softball team ended in a split as the Blackbirds lost its first game against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers, 9-4, before rallying to take the second game, 3-2. The Blackbirds closed the day with an overall record of 15-20.
GAME 1: LIU 4, MSM 9 (F/8)
The opening matchup of the NEC season for both teams was a back and forth affair throughout regulation. LIU scored its first two runs in the second and third innings on sophomore
Schae Dickson's fifth home run of the year and an RBI single from junior
Angie Vazquez, respectively.
The Mount tied the game in the fifth inning on a two-run double but the Blackbirds immediately regained a 4-2 advantage with a pair of RBI singles by freshman Angie Rizzi and Vazquez in the bottom of the inning.
Another RBI double and a sacrifice ground out in the sixth evened the score again for the Mountaineers, making the tally 4-4. The Blackbirds were able to come to bat two more times in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings but could not break the stalemate. However, in the first extra inning, Mount St. Mary's scored five runs on seven hits to pull away from the host Blackbirds.
GAME 2: LIU 3, MSM 2
In similar fashion to the day's first game. LIU struck first with a pair of runs. In the second inning, senior Shelley Procter and junior Victoria Zamora hit RBI singles on back-to-back at-bats to create LIU's 2-0 separation.
However, the Mountaineers continued to show their resiliency by tying the contest in the fourth on two-run double to left center.
The Blackbirds were quiet for the next three innings before putting together a thrilling rally in the bottom of the seventh.
After a leadoff putout, senior
Kylie Mulholland reached base and advanced to second on an infield error by the Mountaineers. A strikeout gave LIU its second out before Zamora drew a hit by pitch to put runners on first and second. Rizzi loaded the bases by drawing her 12th walk of the season and set the stage for junior
Gina Bond to potentially be the hero of the game.
Bond responded in kind, battling through a full count before belting the game-winning single to left center.
Zamora was the most consistent hitter on the afternoon, going .667 (4-for-6) with one RBI, one run scored, an on-base percentage of .750 and a stolen base. Junior
Erynn Sobieski started both games, going 1-0 with a 2.93 ERA, one complete game, six strikeouts, six runs and nine hits in 14.1 innings.
OTHER NOTES
Bond was awarded the LIU Brooklyn Softball Alumni Day MVP award for her late-game heroics. The awarded is named in the memory of former beloved Blackbird Lynn DeVivo Bao. The program also raised funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation with concession and merchandise sales during the day.
NEXT UP
LIU goes back to non-conference action on Wednesday, April 5 when the Blackbirds host Stony Brook for a 3:30 p.m. game at LIU Field. The game will serve as the program's inaugural Breast Cancer Awareness Game.