Palmeri's Walk-Off Hit Rallies Softball Past SNHU in Extras, 3-2
Box Score WEST HAVEN, Conn. (May 10, 2014) - Sophomore third baseman
Maria Palmeri (Middle Village, N.Y.) delivered a walk-off bases-loaded RBI single up the middle Saturday to give the top-seeded LIU Post softball team a 3-2 win over Southern New Hampshire in an eight-inning NCAA East Sub-Regional contest at the UNH Softball Field in West Haven, Conn.
With the victory, LIU Post improves to 47-8 overall, and advances to the East Sub-Regional final on Sunday (May 11) at 1 p.m. Southern New Hampshire dips to 30-14, and will take on the winner of the New Haven/Wilmington match-up.
For the second-straight day, the game was scoreless until the sixth inning as Pioneer starter
Liz Weber (Brightwaters, N.Y.) and Penmen hurler Ali Maloof battled it out in the circle.
After retiring the first two batters of the frame, Weber surrendered a single up the middle, followed by a homer to left by first baseman Cara Daly, to give the Penmen a 2-0 advantage.
The green and gold were not going down without a fight as sophomore designated player
Paige Swantek (Smithtown, N.Y.) led off the bottom of the seventh with a single up the middle. Freshman first baseman
Kayla McCoy (Smithtown, N.Y.) then earned a walk, putting Pioneers on first and second with no outs. The very next batter, Palmeri singled to Maloof, but the pitcher overthrew first, allowing both runners to score and Palmeri to advance all the way to third. Maloof redeemed herself by retiring the next three to face her in order, which sent the game into extra innings.
With two outs in the eighth and a runner on first, left fielder Holly Eicher singled to right field and pinch runner Skyler Shugrue made her way all the way to third. That's where SNHU's threat ended, though, as Weber came away with a huge strikeout of Daly to end the frame.
In the bottom half, senior outfielder
Alexis Gonzalez (Hauppauge, N.Y.) singled up the middle to get things rolling. Senior shortstop
Nicole Hagenah (Commack, N.Y.) subsequently laid down a sacrifice bunt that was mishandled, allowing Gonzalez and Hagenah to advance to third and second, respectively.
After Maloof recorded the next two outs and McCoy walked to load the bases, Palmeri came to bat and singled up the middle to send Hagenah home for the win.
Weber (24-3) was once again stellar in the circle. She threw eight innings, scattering six hits and two walks while fanning four.
Maloof (21-8) was tabbed with the loss as her 7.2 innings of work surrendered three runs (none earned) on six hits and five walks while striking out four.
Junior outfielder
Catherine Havens (Eastport, N.Y.) and Palmeri each finished the contest 2-for-4 to lead the offense.
The Pioneers await their opponent in the East Sub-Regional final, as SNHU will face the winner of New Haven/Wilmington to decide who will meet LIU Post at 1 p.m. at the UNH Softball Field in West Haven, Conn.