BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Mercyhurst softball team played their season finale today at LIU. Yesterday, the Sharks narrowly defeated the Lakers 9-8 in game one and 4-3 in an extra inning in game two. Today was completely different. The Lakers recorded hits but were forced to leave every runner on base. LIU won this series finale and secured their second consecutive NEC regular-season title with a 7-0 win.
Mercyhurst (9-34, 8-16 NEC) recorded a pair of hits right away.
Gabriella DeLuca and
Emelie Pascual both hit singles in the first inning. However, they were forced to stay on base. LIU (23-30, 21-3 NEC) took the lead in their half, starting with an RBI single to right field. They then capitalized with an RBI double to right center to make it 2-0. The second frame saw the Sharks extend their lead with two home runs and an RBI single as they now led by five.
In the fifth stanza, LIU added two more runs. One Shark scored on a bases-loaded walk, and then a pinch runner crossed the plate on a fielder's choice. Pascual made a tremendous play from shortstop to record a punchout, but the Sharks already held a sizable lead of seven runs.
Alexa North managed to escape the inning with runners on base to prevent the mercy rule.
In the sixth inning, the Lakers still could not score.
Natalie Cully managed to pull off a 4-3 double play from second base to again prevent a run rule. LIU held off the Lakers in the top of the seventh and won game three of this series, 7-0.
