Softball Drops a Pair to Ranked Teams in Sacramento

(Osu boxscore) (Iowa boxscore)

3/18/05 – Long Island University was dealt a pair of 8-0 losses by 17th-ranked Oregon State and No. 27 Iowa at the Capital Classic in Sacramento, Calif.

Against Oregon State (15-6), LIU gave up all its runs over the first three innings. The Beavers scored first when Brianne McGowan doubled to right in the opening inning and added another in the second on Cambria Miranda’s home run.

The Blackbirds got their lone hit in the opening inning when freshman Celina Castillo (Belmont, Calif.) singled up the middle. Senior Chelsea Crosby (Reno, Nev.) permitted eight runs – six earned – and eight hits over four innings for LIU.

McGowan allowed one hit over three scoreless innings for Oregon State.

LIU again fell victim to the long ball against Iowa, trailing 1-0 in the first when Summer Downs belted a lead-off homer. Lisa Birocci added a two-run shot in the second, the first of her two home runs, as the Hawkeyes (22-5) extended their lead to 3-0.

Sophomore Randi Gillespie (Saratoga, Calif.) and junior Leah Glenn (Huntington Beach, Calif.) each singled for LIU (3-16), which has played eight contests against ranked teams this year.

Senior Jackie Brown (Westminster, Calif.) surrendered eight runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings for LIU. Birocci yielded two hits over five scoreless frames with four strikeouts.

The Blackbirds on Saturday face Portland State at 1:00 pm EST and Illinois at 8:30 pm EST.