BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Apr. 15, 2016) - On Friday, the LIU Post baseball team downed University of Bridgeport, 8-2, in the opening contest of a four-game East Coast Conference series at the LIU Post Baseball Field in Brookville.

The Pioneers (12-17, 4-9 ECC) didn't waste any time, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first.

Junior left fielder Kenny Daley (Glenwood Landing, N.Y.) got things going with an RBI single, before freshman right fielder Dave Brehm (Bohemia, N.Y.) doubled home two more runs.

The Purple Knights (15-11-1, 8-5 ECC) scored a run in the third, but the Pioneers had an answer.

In the fourth, freshman third baseman Jimmy Mendyk (Massapequa, N.Y.) singled home Brehm, making it a 4-1 game.

The following inning, junior designated hitter Kyle Fagan (Wantagh, N.Y.) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, giving the green and gold a 5-1 advantage.

In the sixth, Mendyk drove in another run with a single, extending the Pioneers' lead to 6-1.

Bridgeport scratched across a run in the seventh and that was all they got off junior starter Jake DeCarli (Higganum, Conn.)

Senior first baseman David Groeneveld (Centereach, N.Y.) drove in a run in LIU Post's half of the seventh with a single, making it 6-2.

In the bottom of the eighth, sophomore shortstop Joe Spitaleri (Levittown, N.Y.) plated a run with a single of his own.

DeCarli scattered five hits over eight strong innings. The righty allowed two runs (one earned), while striking out seven and walking three to get the win.

Senior pitcher Dillon Burke (Plainview, N.Y.) threw a perfect ninth in relief.

Brehm and Mendyk both had two-hit and two-RBI games to lead the offense.

Head Coach Mike Gaffney and his Pioneers return to action on Saturday (Apr. 16), when they resume their four-game set with a doubleheader in Bridgeport. First pitch for Game One is set for noon.