HACKENSACK, N.J -- The LIU Brooklyn softball team (21-13, 3-1 NEC) split a Northeast Conference doubleheader at Fairleigh Dickinson (9-26, 2-4) on Sunday. In a pair of pitcher's duels, the Blackbirds won game one, 3-1, but fell to the Knights in game two, 2-1, on Sunday.

GAME 1: LIU 3, FDU 1
The Blackbirds produced a single run in both the second and third innings, with junior Katie Hinkle bringing around sophomore Kiana Cisneros in the second and Cisneros driving in senior Schae Dickson in the third frame, to give the road team a 2-0 lead.

In the fifth frame, FDU's Logan Kolehmainen had an RBI single to cut the deficit in half, making the score 2-1. But the Blackbirds added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning on a double by sophomore Alina Castillo, bringing around freshman Camryn Lyman to make it a 3-1 game.

Freshman righty Elena Valenzuela (11-3) went seven full to earn her conference-high 11th win and ninth complete game, yielding only five hits, one walk, one run (unearned) and had four strikeouts in the victory. At the plate, Cisneros went 2-for-3 with one run scored and had the game-winning RBI to lead the squad.

FDU starter Abby England (3-4) threw the first six innings, giving up only four hits and two runs (one earned), but took the loss Baylee Ports came in for the Knights in the seventh frame and allowed the final run, but did not factor in the decision.


GAME 2: FDU 2, LIU 1

LIU outhit FDU in game two, 8-6 but couldn't muster enough offense to overcome junior Erica Johnson, who only gave up one run (unearned) in 7.0 innings for her third win of the season.

The Knights took the lead right immediately in the bottom of the first, as three of the first four batters singled and Logan Kolehmainen brought home Rylie Schmeh for an early 1-0 lead.

Sophomore Victoria Lowe (6-7) settled down after the first inning and yielded only three hits over the next four innings, but came away with the loss. Elena Valenzuela, the winner of game one, came in for a clean seventh inning, getting the final three outs.

The Blackbirds used three singles by Katie Hinkle, Patricia Griffin and Schae Dickson (RBI) of their own in the top of the fifth frame, to tie the score at 1-1.

In the bottom of the sixth, Serena Meehan, who doubled to lead off the inning, scored the winning run for the Knights following an errant throw on a steal of third base.

LIU had a chance to tie the game up in the top of the seventh, as Griffin and Lyman had back-to-back singles off of Johnson (3-8), but the duo did not advance any further.

NOTES

• The loss in game two stopped the Blackbirds' six-game win streak, just shy of the team's seven game win streak during the early part of the season.
• FDU stopped a four-game losing streak to LIU win the win in Sunday's finale.
• Having appeared in three of the four games this weekend and not yielding a run, the Elena Valenzuela has now thrown 15 consecutive innings without giving up an earned run. Her season high is 21 scoreless innings earlier this season.
• Both Patricia Griffin and Kiana Cisneros had three two-hit games this weekend for the 'Birds. Cisneros is now on a five game hitting streak since missing the first three games back in New York.

ALUMNI DAY IS NEXT
The Blackbirds are thrilled to host to Alumni Day, next Saturday (April 13) when they host Mount St. Mary's for the team's 2019 NEC home opener at 1:00 p.m. LIU will also be home on Sunday, April 14 to face NEC foe Bryant at 3:00 p.m.