BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn softball team took one of two from Sacred Heart on LIU Field Sunday afternoon, beating the Pioneers 2-0 in the first game, before falling 4-0 in the second. The split came on Senior Day, as prior to the first game, the Blackbirds honored the four members of their team playing their final games on LIU Field:
Nereyda Gutierrez,
Erynn Sobieski,
Angie Vazquez and
Victoria Zamora.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Freshman Victoria Lowe twirled a gem in the first game of the day. The righty threw a complete game shutout, giving up just two hits in 7.0 innings, with seven strikeouts.
- The Blackbirds scored their two runs playing small ball. In the bottom of the first, sophomore Katie Hinkle led off with a single, and was advanced on a groundout. Junior Patricia Griffin got the RBI with a single up the middle, which was hit just hard enough for the speedy Hinkle to come home from second, giving LIU the 1-0 lead.
- In the bottom of the third, the Blackbirds added one more run. Freshman Alina Castillo had a triple down the right field line, and came home on Griffin's RBI single to make it 2-0.
- Lowe would get out of a jam in the top of the sixth with two runners on and two outs, but she got the next Pioneer battle to strike out looking, ending the threat. And it took just six pitches in the top of the seventh for Lowe to retire the side, icing the win for LIU, 2-0.
- Griffin finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with both RBI to lead the Blackbirds
- In game two, SHU's Emily Orosco limited LIU to just four hits over seven innings, including sixth strikeouts, en route to the 4-0 shutout.
- Lowe had the start in game two as well, registering four more strikeouts for the Blackbirds.
- SHU had a leadoff triple in the first inning, and scored on a sacrifice fly. A home run in the top of the third accounted for the next run, and added one more in the top of the fifth and sixth innings to lead, 4-0.
- Both senior Victoria Zamora and senior Angie Vazquez had doubles for the Blackbirds in game two, but were stranded.
- Sophomore Haley Irvis closed out the game for the Blackbirds, holding SHU scoreless with no hits in the final inning.
NOTES FROM THE NEST
- With the split, the Blackbirds move to 20-26 on the season, and 8-7 in Northeast Conference play.
- Up next, the Blackbirds will resume their contest at Wagner that was suspended due to field conditions earlier this season. The date is still to be determined.