Blackbirds Capture Ninth Northeast Conference Tournament Crown; Beat Robert Morris, 4-2

(boxscore)

5/13/06 -- Top-seeded Long Island University captured its ninth Northeast Conference Tournament title, defeating defending champion Robert Morris, 4-2, on Saturday afternoon at FDU Softball Field.

Sophomore Alyssa Winslow (San Jacinto, CA/San Jacinto) led the Blackbirds offensive attack, going 2-for-4 with two runs batted in. The all-tournament team selection went 5-for-11 in the three-game tourney with team highs in both runs (3) and RBI (3).

NEC Pitcher of the Year Jenny Giles (Melbourne, FL/Eau Gallie) picked up another piece of hardware- the NEC Tournament Most Valuable Player plaque. The Blackbirds freshman hurler went 2-0 in the tournament with a 1.12 ERA. Giles registered a save in the championship game, tossing two innings of shutout ball with three strikeouts.

The Colonials (26-19) struck first, plating a pair of runs in the first inning. Following an out, Crystal Herman (Richmond, British Columbia/Lake City CC) rapped a base hit to right field. Senior Keri Meyer (Carnegie, PA/Canevin Catholic) followed with a single through the left side as Herman moved to second. A wild pitch moved both up a base and Herman would score when the next batter, Kali Byers, flied out to center field.

After catcher Jill Dorsch earned a base on balls to put runners on first and second, junior Ashlee Smith (Mechanicsville, VA/Lee-Davis) hit a roller which was misplayed by the third baseman. The miscue allowed pinch runner Fallon Pritchett to score unearned and give the visitors a 2-0 edge.

The Blackbirds (34-21) responded in the bottom of the first, tying the contest. NEC Player of the Year Randi Gillespie (San Jose, CA/West Valley CC) laced a two-out shot up the middle to commence an LIU rally. Winslow scored Gillespie on a double to deep left center. After a hit by pitch and walk loaded the bases, a check-swing single to center by senior Krystal Mejia (Sylmar, CA/New Mexico) plated Winslow to knot the game.

Senior Alissa Villanueva (Pacoima, CA/Kennedy) and sophomore Celina Castillo (Redwood City, CA/Carlmont) notched back-to-back singles with one out in the fourth. Both advanced a base on a double steal and Villanueva scored on a fielding error by the Robert Morris shortstop to put the Blackbirds ahead to stay.

LIU added an insurance run in the sixth as Winslow’s second RBI game brought classmate Vanessa Mejia (Roanoke, VA/Los Angeles CC) home. Giles set down the Colonials in order in the seventh to preserve the victory for starter Jessica Busick (Milpitas, CA/West Valley CC). Junior Holly Erwin (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King, Jr.) also was named to the all-tournament team for the Blackbirds.

The Blackbirds, winners of three of the past four NEC Tournament crowns, earn the league’s automatic bid to the 25th Annual Division I NCAA Tournament. The selection show is Sunday, May 14 at 3:30 p.m. on ESPNNews.