Jessie DePippo’s Grand Slam and Jackie Brown’s Pitching Lift LIU Softball to Doubleheader Sweep at Fairleigh Dickinson

(game 1boxscore) (game 2 boxscore)

5/8/05 -- Sophomore Jessie DePippo (Westlake Village, Calif.) launched a grand slam to spark a six-run third inning and senior Jackie Brown (Westminster, Calif.) pitched solidly for Long Island in a 10-0 Northeast Conference win over Fairleigh Dickinson that preceded an 8-2 triumph in Hackensack, N.J.

The Blackbirds (21-26, 15-5 NEC) used the third-inning barrage to open a 6-0 lead. Krystal Mejia (Sylmar, Calif.), fellow junior Alissa Villanueva (Pacoima, Calif.) and senior Briana Mathiesen (Sylmar, Calif.) singled to load the bases and DePippo unloaded them with her second home run of the season. LIU was not done as Mejia came up later in the inning with a two-run single, scoring freshman Celina Castillo (Redwood City, Calif.) and sophomore Holly Erwin (Riverside, Calif.).

LIU added four runs in the fourth for the final margin. Mathiesen laced an RBI single, freshman Vanessa Mejia (Roanoke, Va.) placed a two-run double just inside the right-field line and Castillo added a run-scoring groundout.

Brown (12-12) again pitched exceptionally for her 10th victory in 12 decisions, retiring nine straight batters between the first and third innings. She struck out four and permitted three hits over five scoreless innings to aid the Blackbirds in their ninth mercy-rule win this season.

DePippo closed with three hits and Villanueva went 3-for-3.

One day after tossing a no-hitter against Central Connecticut State, Nicole Webb was not so fortunate today for FDU. She allowed 10 runs and 14 hits over five innings.

LIU in game two took control with three runs in the top of the fifth, turning a one-run lead into a 7-3 cushion. Erwin laced a double to deep left field, scoring sophomore Randi Gillespie (San Jose, Calif.) for a 5-3 lead, and Krystal Mejia followed with a two-run double to straightaway center for a four-run margin.

The Blackbirds opened the scoring in the second for a 4-0 lead. A throwing error by third baseman Jessi Potter on Krystal Mejia’s grounder plated Erwin and Vanessa Mejia. Castillo followed with a two-run homer to right for her third long ball of the year.

The Knights cut their deficit to 4-3 in the bottom of the frame. Kara Morris lined a run-scoring single to center and Dana Myers added a two RBI double to right. Myers on the play was thrown out at third on a relay that went from freshman Brittany Murphy (Los Alamitos, Calif.) in right to Castillo at shortstop to Vanessa Mejia.

Reno, Nev. native Chelsea Crosby (7-14) made it hold up, permitting just three hits after the second inning. Overall, she surrendered four runs and eight hits over seven innings with four strikeouts.

Krystal Mejia went 3-for-3 and Erwin also finished with three hits for the Blackbirds.

LIU will compete in the NEC Tournament as the number two seed and open the double-elimination event against third-seeded Wagner on Friday at 11:30 am in Moon Township, Pa. Host and top seed Robert Morris begins the day facing No. 4 seed Quinnipiac at 9:00 am.