Staten Island, NY – In its final Northeast Conference (NEC) doubleheader of the regular season, the Wagner softball team split a pair of games with LIU Brooklyn, first dropping a 4-3 decision in eight innings before besting the Blackbirds 3-2.

The Seahawks finish with an overall record of 20-24 and 7-9 in conference play, while the Blackbirds are now 20-32 and 9-7 in conference play.

In game one, sophomore right fielder Abigail Beasley (Peoria, AZ / Centennial) paced the Seahawk offense, going two-for-four with one RBI and two runs scored. Junior shortstop Kelsey Parker (Lynnwood, WA / Lynnwood) continued her assault on the Wagner record books, going three-for-four at the plate with one run scored.

Freshman McKaleigh Goodale (Bradenton, FL / Lakewood Ranch) (9-10) hurled all eight innings, allowing nine hits and two earned runs, while walking one and striking out one.

As a club, Wagner had nine hits from five different batters.

The game remained close through the first three innings, with neither squad able to get a runner past second base.

In the top of the fourth inning, however, LIU Brooklyn opened up the scoring by pushing across two runs to take the lead.

Wagner would get one of those runs back in its frame of the fourth to cut the Blackbirds' lead down to 2-1. With one out, Beasley reached first base on a fielder's choice, and advanced to second when Bott drew a walk. With two on and two outs, freshman Hana Gilbert (Valley Center, CA / Valley Center) singled down the right field line to plate Beasley.

The Seahawks evened the score at two-a-piece in the bottom of the sixth inning. Parker started things off with a single to third base. Beasley followed with a single to short stop to push Parker into scoring position. Brenda Bott (Fountain Valley, CA / Fountain Valley) then knocked in the tying run with a single up the middle to score Parker.

With the score still deadlocked at 2-2 after seven innings, the game was sent into extra innings.

LIU Brooklyn would reclaim its lead in the top of the eighth inning, recording two runs to make it 4-2. The damage could have been worse, but Goodale was able to force a routine ground out to nab the third out.

The Seahawks were able to record one final run in their frame of the eighth, when Beasley attacked the first pitch of her at-bat to send the ball soaring over the right field fence for a solo-homer. Beasley now has a team-high 11 dingers this season.

Unfortunately, Wagner would be unable to register another run, as the game ended with a final score of 4-3.

In game two, both Parker and freshman second baseman Taylor Beeson (Mesa, AZ / Red Mountain) proved instrumental in the 3-2 victory. Parker went one-for-three at the plate, with two RBI and one run scored, while Beeson went one-for-two at the plate, with one RBI and one run scored.

Wagner's pitching staff provided solid performances, with Samantha Bedker (Phoenix, AZ / Sandra Day O'Connor) tossing the first 6.0 innings, and Goodale thowing the final inning. Bedker allowed five hits, one earned run, and one walk, and struck out one. Bedker earned the win to improve to 10-8 on the season, while Goodale registered the save, her second of the season.

The Seahawks wasted no time getting on the board, posting two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead. Brianna Tredway (Downingtown, PA / Downingtown West) opened the inning with a single through the right side, and advanced a bag when Beeson laid down a sacrifice bunt.

Parker then followed with a whopper of a home run, her ninth of the season, to give Wagner a 2-0 advantage.

Neither team would add a run until the bottom of the sixth, when Beeson hit a solo-homer to increase Wagner's lead to 3-0. The moon shot marked Beeson's fourth of the season.

LIU Brooklyn refused to go down without a fight, loading the bases in the top of the seventh inning with its first three batters before plating two runs to cut Wagner's lead to 3-2.

With no outs and a pair on, Goodale entered the circle. LIU Brooklyn was able to move both runners into scoring position following a sacrifice bunt, but Goodale induced a pair of routine grounders to pitch the Seahawks out of a huge jam and end the game.