Softball Sweeps Second Straight NEC Doubleheader; Defeats Sacred Heart

(Game 1 boxscore) / (Game 2 boxscore)

4/10/05 -- Junior Krystal Mejia (Sylmar, Calif.) and sophomore Randi Gillespie (San Jose, Calif.) combined to go 6-for-11 at the plate and collect seven RBI to lead Long Island University to a doubleheader sweep at Northeast Conference rival Sacred Heart (10-0 (5), 4-1) on Sunday afternoon.

Krystal Mejia was 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI and Gillespie went 3-for-6, registering three RBI. Sophomore Jessie DePippo (Westlake Village, Calif.) and freshman Vanessa Mejia (Roanoke, Va.) collected two RBI apiece.

The Blackbirds (11-22, 7-1 NEC) led 1-0 in the second inning of game one on Krystal Mejia's solo home run to right field and broke open the game in the fourth, erupting for seven runs on seven hits.

Sophomore Holly Erwin (Riverside, Calif.) and freshman Celina Castillo (Redwood City, Calif) opened the frame with back-to-back singles and advanced a base each on a fielding error.

With the bases loaded following a bunt single from junior Leah Glenn (Huntington Beach, Calif.), Vanessa Mejia doubled to deep center field to score two and cousin Krystal followed with a three-run homer to clear the bases. The Blackbirds added two more runs before the inning was done.

LIU added two more runs in the fifth to seal the victory in the shortened contest. Senior Jackie Brown (Westminster, Calif.) permitted three hits over five innings for her first shutout of the season.

Trailing 1-0 after five complete innings in the second contest, LIU plated two runs each in the final two frames for the triumph.

With one out, senior Briana Mathiesen (Sylmar, Calif.) looped her fifth double of the season and scored two batters later on a single from Gillespie. Erwin followed with a single as Gillespie pushed to third. A fielding error by second baseman Becky Cameron on a rip from Castillo scored Gillespie, pushing the Blackbirds to a 2-1 advantage. They added two more in the decisive seventh for the victory.

Chelsea Crosby (4-12) posted her second straight win, holding Sacred Heart hitless over the final four innings. She allowed just three hits in the complete game.