Softball Defeats Illinois-Chicago to Complete Play at the Speedline Invitational

(Southern Miss. box) / (Illinois-Chicago box)

3/12-13/05 -- Sophomore Randi Gillespie (Saratoga, Calif.) had three hits and a clutch two-run single for Long Island on Sunday in a 4-0 victory over Illinois-Chicago following Saturday's 2-0 loss to Southern Mississippi at the Speedline Invitational in Clearwater, Fla.

The Blackbirds on Sunday grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. Gillespie singled to left field, stole second and scored on a single up the middle by junior Leah Glenn (Huntington Beach, Calif.).

LIU's cushion grew to 4-0 in the fifth. Freshmen Brittany Murphy (Los Alamitos, Calif.) and Celina Castillo (Belmont, Calif.) singled and reached second and third base, respectively, with two outs. Gillespie followed by lacing one to right-center field for a three-run margin.

After advancing to second, Gillespie stole third and scored when the catcher's throw went into left field.

The shutout stayed intact in the seventh as junior center fielder Alissa Villanueva (Pacoima, Calif.) made a leaping catch at the fence to rob Joyce Cathy of an extra-base hit.

Senior Chelsea Crosby (Reno, Nev.) struck out one over seven innings and allowed nine hits for the Blackbirds.

LIU against Southern Mississippi found itself down 1-0 in the fifth inning when Sue Logan singled to center field, scoring Melissa Prouty. The deficit grew to 2-0 in the sixth, courtesy of Jessica Huerta's leadoff homer.

The Blackbirds had a golden opportunity to score in the sixth. Murphy singled to center with senior Briana Mathiesen (Sylmar, Calif.) and Gillespie reaching on two-out errors to load the bases. But sophomore Jessie DePippo (Westlake Village, Calif.) struck out to end the rally.

Villanueva singled to lead off the seventh for just the Blackbirds' second hit of the game, but was stranded at first.

Senior Jackie Brown (Westminster, Calif.) struck out five over seven innings, surrendering two runs, seven hits and one walk.

LIU heads to UNLV Rebel Tournament on Monday to face Arizona at 4:00 pm Eastern Time.