BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn softball team had a Northeast Conference sweep at home Saturday afternoon, beating Fairleigh Dickinson in both games of the doubleheader. In game one, the Blackbirds beat the Knights In five innings, 8-0, before taking the 7-2 win in the second game of the day. With the wins, LIU improves to 19-25 overall, and 7-6 in league action.
 
BLACKBIRDS BITS

• In the first game of the day, the Blackbirds beat the Knights in five innings, 8-0. Freshman Victoria Lowe (4-4) pitched a complete game shutout, holding FDU to just two hits in 5.0 scoreless innings pitched.
• LIU started scoring in the bottom of the first inning, on an RBI double from junior Patricia Griffin. A sacrifice fly from freshman Kiana Cisneros in the bottom of the second made it 2-0.
• The Blackbirds blew the game open in the bottom of the third. Senior Angie Vazquez hit a long single to right field that would score two runs, and two batters later, sophomore Katie Hinkle would hit another long single that scored two Blackbirds, making it 6-0. LIU's seventh run scored on an RBI ground out from Cisneros, and LIU led, 7-0.
• In the bottom of the fourth, LIU added the decisive eighth run on an RBI single from Vazquez. Lowe was able to keep the Knights from scoring in the top of the fifth, and the Blackbirds took the win in five, 8-0.
• The Blackbirds won the second game, 7-2, to complete the sweep. Senior Erynn Sobieski (9-11) had the win on the mound in game two, pitching 4.0 innings with four strikeouts and just three hits.
• A sac fly by senior Nereyda Gutierrez brought the first run in for LIU in the bottom of the first frame, and had an RBI groundout in the third to make it 2-0. Freshman Ryleigh Bermea added two more runs in the third on a single up the middle, and the Blackbirds had a 4-0 advantage.
• FDU would score two runs in the fourth to get on the board for the first time, but LIU would score three more runs before the day was out. Vazquez had an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth, and Cisneros and Griffin both had RBI hits in the sixth frame to make it 7-2 Blackbirds.
• Lowe came back into to pitch for LIU in the fifth inning of game two, and held FDU scoreless for the last three, earning her second save of the season.

 
LYNN DEVIVO BAO AWARD

• Senior Angie Vazquez was given the 2018 LIU Alumni Day Player of the Game, presented annually in memory of Lynn DeVivo Bao. Lynn was an LIU softball student athlete who, both on and off the diamond, exemplified the true Blackbird spirit of determination, commitment and unwavering perseverance.
• Vazquez finished the day with four runs batted in, four hits at the plate (4-6), and two runs scored helping lead LIU to the wins. She also made several crucial defensive plays at third to help limit the damage FDU could do.

 
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Sophomore Katie Hinkle was a combined 4-for-6 with two RBI in game one, and two runs scored in game two.
• Freshman Victoria Lowe earned the win in game one (5.0 IP, 2 Ks, 2 hits, 0 runs scored), and the save in game two, pitching another 3.0 scoreless innings.
• Freshman Kiana Cisneros had three RBI on the day.
• Patricia Griffin was 2-for-2 with an RBI in game one, and had two runs scored in game two.
• Nereyda Gutierrez finished the day with two RBI, while freshman Ryleigh Bermea also had two RBI, and freshman Alina Castillo was 2-for-3 in game two with a run scored.

 
UP NEXT
The Blackbirds host Sacred Heart for a big NEC doubleheader at home, Sunday, April 29 at 12 p.m.