Briana Mathiesen’s Three-Run Homer Lifts Softball to Doubleheader Split Vs. Robert Morris

(game 1boxscore) / (game 2 boxscore)

5/4/05 -- Senior Briana Mathiesen (Sylmar, Calif.) blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of sixth inning for Long Island in a 4-3 Northeast Conference victory over Robert Morris before a 4-3 loss in game two, played at Wagner College in Staten Island.

Junior Leah Glenn (Huntington Beach, Calif.) beat out a one-out single in front of catcher Camille Kline to start the sixth-inning rally. Two batters later, freshman pinch-hitter Brittany Murphy (Los Alamitos, Calif.) drew a full-count walk with two outs to set the stage for Mathiesen. The standout first baseman delivered, crushing the first pitch from Erica Riggle to center for her 11th home run of the season and 26th career.

Westminster, Calif. senior Jackie Brown (11-12) retired the side in order in the seventh for her ninth victory in the last 10 decisions, prior to game two. She permitted three unearned runs and five hits over seven innings.

LIU (19-26, 13-5 NEC) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. Celina Castillo (Redwood City, Calif.) laced a leadoff single to right center and scored from first when fellow freshman Vanessa Mejia (Roanoke, Va.) cracked a doubled to dead center.

The Colonials (22-20-1, 13-3) struck for three runs in the fifth and a 3-1 lead. Crystal Herman reached on an error by Castillo at shortstop, Kali Byers walked and Jill Dorsch took first on another error by Castillo. Brandi Doerschner cleared the bases with a double that nearly was caught by a diving Randi Gillespie in left.

Riggle allowed four runs and eight hits over six innings with two strikeouts for the Colonials, who left eight runners on. Jill Spargo rapped two hits.

Robert Morris in game two took the lead for good with a run in the top of the seventh inning. Brenna Reed laced a leadoff single and was sacrificed to second by Spargo. Two batters later, Keri Meyer singled to right and Reed eluded the tag of sophomore catcher Jessie DePippo (Westlake Village, Calif,) to score.

LIU in the bottom of the seventh brought the winning run to the plate after Castillo was hit by a pitch and Mejia singled, but Glenn grounded out to end it.

Robert Morris scored twice in the top of the sixth on solo homers by Meyer and Doerschner for a 3-1 lead. LIU tied it in the bottom of the inning as Glenn scored on a throwing error by Dorsch at catcher following a wild pitch and DePippo lined an RBI single.

Danielle Cohen (10-5) allowed three runs -- two earned -- and eight hits over seven innings with six strikeouts. Meyer finished with three hits.

Brown surrendered four runs and 11 hits over seven innings and Mejia rapped three hits for the Blackbirds, who left 10 runners on.

LIU closes regular-season play Sunday with an NEC doubleheader at Fairleigh Dickinson. First pitch is at 12:00 pm in Hackensack, N.J.