Softball Fights in Offensive Battle at LIU

Links: Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 2)
 
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. --  The Merrimack College softball team fell in both doubleheader games at Long Island University on Friday, including a back-and-forth offensive battle in the second game.  
The Basics
Score: Game 1: Merrimack 1, LIU 9 | Final (5 innings)
Score: Game 2: Merrimack 9, LIU 11 | Final
Records: Merrimack (6-16, 4-10 NEC) | LIU (11-3, 11-3 NEC)
Location: LIU Softball Complex | Brookville, NY

Rapid Recap (Game One)

• The home squad worked a run on the board in the first, with a two out double to left brought in on a single and error for a lead.
• LIU extended its lead in the third, with a walk and wild pitch advancing a runner into scoring position. A single to center brought in the second run of the day for the Sharks.
• Merrimack got on the board in the fourth, kickstarted by a leadoff single up the middle by Abigail Amato. Kelly Dovi laid down a sac bunt to advance Amato to second. Courtney Lanpher singled through the right side to put runners on the corners, before Amato came around to score on a pickoff attempt against Lanpher that resulted in a run-down.
• The Sharks added four in the bottom of the fourth on three hits, including a double to center that brought two across the plate.
• LIU closed the game out in the fifth with a three-run effort, loading the bases with a bunt single, walk and single. A fielder's choice snagged the out against the runner heading home, before a walk brought in a run. Another out at home set up a bases loaded situation, with the winning run coming in on a single through the left side.  

 
 
Rapid Recap (Game Two)

• Merrimack started the offense out of the gate, with Tiffany Mangiameli working a leadoff walk before Sarah Reisler singled to short to put two on. Abigail Amato brought Mangiameli in to score with a single roped down the left field line, leaving two in scoring position for Kelly Dovi. Dovi laid down a well-placed bunt to bring in Reisler to score, with Amato following behind her on a sacrifice fly by Courtney Lanpher.  
• LIU responded in the bottom half of the inning with five runs on four hits, including two doubles.  
• The Warriors jumped back into the lead in the second, with Lucy Colarusso sending a single to right, joined on base by Nicole Koshes who doubled to right center. Facing a new pitcher, Tiffany Mangiameli doubled down the left field line, scoring two. Mangiameli came in to score on a bunt by Sarah Reisler, crossing as the infielders tried to snag Reisler in a run down between first and second to make it a 6-5 game.
• The Sharks snapped back in the second for two runs to take a lead, loading the bases to bring runs in on a single and wild pitch. In the third LIU added a ninth run on after reaching on a bases loaded fielder's choice for a 9-6 game after three.
• Merrimack fought to tie the game in the fifth, as Lanpher singled to center before Madison Cerpa singled through the left side to put runners on first and second. Nicole Koshes dropped a single in shallow right to bring Lanpher in to score, with Cerpa crossing on a double by Elizabeth McCoy to left center.
• In the bottom half of the inning, LIU responded again to take a lead late. A one out walk was brought in to score on a triple, before a single up the middle brought in the runner at third to make it 11-9 for the Sharks.

 
Notes and Numbers

• Game 1: WP – Tallie Woodson (5-1) | LP – Bry Michitson (1-5)
• Game 2: WP – Victoria Lowe (4-1) | SV— Tallie Woodson (3) | LP – Bry Michitson (1-6)

 
Up Next:
Merrimack will compete in another doubleheader at Long Island University, closing out the series with the Sharks at 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. in Brookville, NY.
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