Long Island Powers Past SFPA; Belts Six Home Runs |
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(Game
1 boxscore) 4/15/06 -Junior Randi Gillespie (San Jose, Calif.) had three home runs and eight total RBI as Long Island posted a doubleheader sweep of St. Francis (PA), 10-0 and 14-5, Saturday afternoon in Northeast Conference softball action. As a team, the Blackbirds hit a season-best six home runs in the two games. Freshman Jenny Giles tossed a two-hit shutout in the first contest, striking out three with no walks. Combined with a victory in game two, Giles moves to 14-14 on the year. Sophomore Vanessa Mejia (Roanoke, Va.) went a combined 5-for-6 in the series with five runs and three RBI. The Blackbirds (21-19, 8-2) struck early with two runs in the first inning of game one, highlighted by a two-run home run to left center by Gilliespie. Senior Alissa Villanueva (Pacoima, Calif.) was hit by a pitch to start the five-run second inning. Freshman Brittnee Edwards (Mesa, Az.) crushed a two-run homer- her fourth of the season – to give LIU a 4-0 lead. With sophomores Celina Castillo (Redwood City, Calif.) and Mejia on base following a fielder’s choice and single, Gillespie cleared the bases with her second dinger in as many at-bats. Vanessa Mejia, Leah Glenn (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and Brittany Murphy (Los Alamitos, Calif.) added an RBI each in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively. The game was called due to the eight-run rule. The Blackbirds registered three runs in the first to commence game two. Following a walk to Castillo, V. Mejia unloaded a 2-2 pitch over the center field fence. After a pair of outs, senior Krystal Mejia (Sylmar, Calif.) reached on a fielding error and scored on a single from Holly Erwin (Riverside, Calif.). LIU tacked on four runs in the second on a two-out rally. With two runners aboard, Gillespie slammed her third homer of the afternoon to push the visitors to a 6-0 advantage. The next batter, Alyssa Winslow, followed suit with a 0-2 long ball to left center to cap off the frame. Saint Francis answered, scoring one run in the second inning and four in the third to crawl to 9-5. They would come no closer the rest of the way as LIU tallied a run each in the fourth and sixth innings and three scores in the final frame. Vanessa (3-for-4) and Krystal Mejia (3-for-5) had three hits apiece for the Blackbirds. LIU had a season-high 17 hits in the contest. Erwin, along with Gillespie, had a game-high 3 RBI as the Blackbirds won for the third straight time.
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