Softball Belts Seven Home Runs in NEC Doubleheader Sweep of St. Francis (PA)

(Game 1 boxscore) / (Game 2 boxscore)

4/3/05 -- Long Island University belted seven home runs, including a pair in game two from junior Krystal Mejia (Sylmar, Calif.), in a Northeast Conference doubleheader sweep of St. Francis (PA) by 7-5 and 18-3 scores at LIU Field.

Mejia closed the doubleheader 3-for-5 with six RBI and sophomore Randi Gillespie (San Jose, Calif.) went 4-for-8 with two homers and five RBI. Sophomore Holly Erwin (Riverside, Calif.) batted 3-for-5 with a clutch homer and five RBI for LIU, which collected 11 hits in game one and 14 in the nightcap.

The Red Flash (2-20, 0-2 NEC) scored four runs in the second inning of game one, capped on a two-run single to center by Jordanna Riggi (Edison, N.J.) for a 4-0 lead. Erin Telford (Seaford, N.Y.) and Kate Lancaster (Woodbridge, Va.) also had RBI in the inning.

The Blackbirds plated five runs in the fourth for a 6-4 lead. Erwin belted a three-run homer down the left field line for her first long ball of the season and a 4-4 tie. Mejia laced an RBI double to right and freshman Celina Castillo (Redwood City, Calif.) added a run-scoring single.

San Jacinto, Calif. freshman Alyssa Winslow (1-0) pitched 4 2/3 solid relief innings in her first collegiate appearance following injury, striking out five and yielding an unearned run and four hits. Sophomore Jessie DePippo (Westlake Village, Calif.) finished 3-for-4 for the Blackbirds.

Jeanine Gargiulo (0-10) gave up seven runs -- five earned -- and 11 hits over six innings for the Red Flash. Brianne McCabe (Portage, Pa.), Nicole Bender (Patton, Pa.) and Vickey Greenough (Rutland, Vt.) had two hits apiece.

LIU scored eight runs in the second inning of game two with three homers for an 8-0 lead. Mejia blasted a two-run shot to left, her cousin Vanessa Mejia (Roanoke, Va.) had an RBI single and Gillespie cracked a grand slam to left for a 7-0 margin.

Senior Briana Mathiesen (Sylmar, Calif.) cracked a solo homer, her sixth of the season, to cap the scoring in the inning. It was her 21st career long ball, tying her with Sonia Zapata (2001-04) for first on the school’s all-time list.

The Blackbirds tacked on eight more runs in the third for a 16-1 cushion. Krystal and Vanessa Mejia each hit a three-run homer in the frame and Erwin added an RBI single.

It was enough offense for Reno, Nev. senior Chelsea Crosby (2-10), who allowed three runs -- one earned -- and seven hits over five innings with two strikeouts. Vanessa Mejia went 3-for-3 with four RBI, Krystal Mejia closed 2-for-2 with five RBI and junior Leah Glenn (Huntington Beach, Calif.) rapped three hits.

Ashley Harlan (2-7) surrendered 16 runs -- 11 earned -- and 11 hits over three innings for St. Francis (PA). Melissa Mackel (Summerhill, Pa.) went 2-for-3.

LIU visits Brooklyn rival St. Francis (NY) on Tuesday for a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 pm.