FORT MYERS, FLA. - The LIU Brooklyn softball team (1-2) earned its first win of the season Friday, beating Kent State 3-1 at the Florida Gulf Coast Kickoff Classic in Fort Meyers. In second game of the day, the Blackbirds were shut out by host FGCU, 7-0. The Blackbirdl finish the tournament facing off against FGCU again Sunday morning at 11:15 p.m.
LIU 3, KENT STATE 1
LIU junior Haley Irvis (1-1) threw a complete game victory on Saturday morning, leading her team to 3-1 win in her second start of the young season.
In the team's first at bat, junior right fielder Patricia Griffin walked on four pitches and immediately stole second during the next at bat. She moved over to third on an infield grounder and came home on a RBI single to left by sophomore Kiana Cisneros, to open up with a 1-0 lead.
FGCU tied the game up in the second frame, on an RBI double, to make it 1-1. On the hill LIU's Irvis (1-1) gave up only eight hits and two walks, while striking out four batters in 7.0 innings. Pitcher Madi Huck (0-2) took the loss after four innings of relief work.
The Blackbirds took the lead again in the fourth inning when sophomore Alina Castillo singled, stole second base and came all the way home on an infield error for the winning run. In her next at bat in the sixth, Castillo nailed a triple to right field and freshman Camryn Lyman singled to bring her home for an insurance run, making the final score 3-1.
Offensively, the Blackbirds batted .346 for the game, collecting nine hits, with four batters getting two hits each: Castillo, Cisneros, Lyman and catcher Samantha Garcia. For Lyman and Garcia, the game featured each freshman's first collegiate hits.
FGCU 7, LIU 0
In the second game of the day, FGCU went up early, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning. After an error extended the inning and two batters were walked, the Eagles would score on three RBI doubles to take a 5-0 lead on the Blackbirds.
The home team would add two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on a triple to go up, 7-0. Though LIU would get a runner in scoring position in the top of the fifth, it was the only time they would threaten to score, and FGCU took the win, 7-0.
Catcher Alyssa Martinez led LIU, going 2-for-2 at the plate, while Patricia Griffin, Schae Dickson, Amanda Domingo and Camryn Lyman all had hits for the Blackbirds. Sophomore Victoria Lowe (1-2) had the loss on the mound for LIU.
Up next, the Blackbirds face off against the home team once more, taking on Florida Gulf Coast, Sunday, February 10 at 11:15 a.m.