BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The LIU Brooklyn softball team edged out local foe, St. John's, 6-5 on Wednesday afternoon. The Blackbirds improve to 18-12 on the season and head into Northeast Conference play this weekend on the road.

The Red Storm struck first with a solo home run in the opening inning to take the lead. LIU was quick to answer in the bottom half of the inning, working runners on first and second with one out. Freshman Alina Castillo delivered a RBI double down the right field line to tie the game up at 1-1. After a sharp line drive to third for the second out, sophomore Kiana Cisneros lined a two run single up the middle for the 3-1 advantage.

LIU would add another run in the bottom of the second as redshirt junior Patricia Griffin reached on a fielding error and stole second base with two outs. She would come around to score on a RBI single by freshman Camryn Lyman for the 4-1 lead.

St. John's worked three straight walks against rookie starter Elena Valenzuela to open the third inning. After an LIU pitching change, The Red Storm struck with a grand slam to left center field to reclaim the lead at 5-4.

The lead would hold for the next few innings till the top of the LIU lineup got to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning. Griffin led off the frame with a single up the middle then advanced on a wild pitch. Lyman stepped in and lined a single to left to put runners at the corners for the Blackbirds. Senior Schae Dickson delivered the third straight hit to start the inning for LIU with an RBI single to right field to tie the game up. With runners on first and third, the Blackbirds went for a delayed steal at second on a strikeout, causing an errant throw that allowed Lyman to score and reclaim the lead at 6-5.

The Red Storm threatened with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth inning against sophomore Victoria Lowe with one out. The righty escaped the inning as St. John's went first pitch swinging for a foul out to third and pop up to second to end the inning.

St. John's looked for one last chance to tie things up in the top of the seventh inning against the Blackbirds with the tying run at second base with two outs. Redshirt-junior Tallie Woodson closed it out with a foul out to third base to give LIU the 6-5 win.

The Blackbirds top of the order produced five of the team's six hits and scored all six runs in the win over the Red Storm. Lowe earned her fifth win of the season, surrendering just one run in four and two thirds innings while striking out four.

Up next, LIU hits the road for a pair of Northeast Conference doubleheaders. First up for the Blackbirds is a matchup against Sacred Heart on Saturday, April 6 with a 1:00 p.m. start from Pioneer Park.