DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 23, 2016) - Freshman catcher Julia Seader (Piscataway, N.J.) crushed three homers Saturday, as the LIU Post softball team took two games from East Coast Conference nemesis Mercy College at Smith Field.

Game #1: LIU Post 5, Mercy 1
Seader quickly got the Pioneers in the board in the opener, belting a first-inning, two-out solo roundtripper to right, staking the green and gold to a quick 1-0 advantage.

Mercy then evened things up in the third, before LIU Post went in front for good in the fourth. A fielding error by junior third baseman Katiana Golino (Carteret, N.J.) allowed Seader to score the go-ahead run.

In the fifth, the Pioneers extended their lead to 5-1. This time, Seader hit a three-run homer, following back-to-back one-out singles by Leah Mele (Coram, N.Y.) and Samantha Marrone (Holbrook, N.Y.).

In the circle, junior pitcher Ashley Martin (Long Beach, N.Y.) earned the win, scattering five hits, one run and three walks with two strikeouts in a complete-game showing.

Game #2: LIU Post 8, Mercy 4 - 9 Inn.
Down 4-1 after five innings of play, the Pioneers (32-11-1, 21-5 ECC) evened things up in the top of the sixth, stringing together four hits in the frame.

Senior third baseman Maria Palmeri (Middle Village, N.Y.) made it a two-run game with an RBI single to right. Senior outfielder Isabella Corrao (Farmingdale, N.Y.) had a two-RBI double to left to tie it.

Down the stretch, freshman pitcher Hannah Olshevski (Robbinsville, N.Y.) was nearly untouchable, allowing just two Maverick (20-28, 10-18 ECC) baserunners over the final four innings.

In the ninth, LIU Post put away any doubt, plating four runs to grab an 8-4 lead. Seader drove an RBI double in the effort, while senior designated player Paige Swantek (Smithtown, N.Y.) ripped a three-run homer to right-center field to break it open.

Head Coach Jamie Apicella and the Pioneers close out the 2016 regular season Sunday (Apr. 24), when they host Dowling College at 11 a.m. at the LIU Post Softball Complex in Brookville.