Giles' Pitching Leads LIU Softball Past Rhode Island, 2-1

(Rhode Island boxscore)

3/16/07 -- Sophomore Jenny Giles (Melbourne, Fla.) pitched a two-hitter and recorded seven strikeouts as the Long Island University softball team won a 2-1 decision over Rhode Island in the first game of the Speedline Invitational in Tampa, Fla. on Friday evening.

Sophomore Renae Beauchman (Eagle Rock, Calif.) tallied two of the Blackbirds’ seven hits, including a one-hopper off the wall in the fourth inning.

Long Island scored a run in each of the first two innings to take the early lead In the first, three consecutive two-out base hits produced a 1-0 advantage. Freshman Mariesha Marker (Keizer, Ore.) singled through the right side and a fielding error by the Rams’ right fielder allowed Vanessa Mejia (Roanoke, Va.) to come home.

In the second, a pair of wild pitches allowed freshman Chelsea Martinson (Agoura Hills, Calif.) to score after she had reached on a walk.

Rhode Island would use the long ball to cut the Blackbirds’ lead in half in the fourth as a solo shot by Christine Gentile made the score 2-1. The Rams would have only one runner reach base after the home run as Giles struck out three in the final three and a third innings.

The Blackbirds will face UNLV in their second game of round-robin play on Saturday, March 17 at 2:30 p.m. LIU will face Kent State at approximately 5:00 p.m. to finish pool competition.