CLERMONT, Fla. (Mar. 11, 2017) - The LIU Post softball team closed out its trip to the PFX Spring Games on Saturday with a split against Le Moyne College and No. 22 Wayne State University in Clermont.

The Pioneers (6-4) won a hard-fought 4-3 extra-inning decision over Le Moyne, before suffering an 11-3 defeat to Wayne State in their Florida finale.

Game #1: LIU Post 4, Le Moyne 3 - F/8
Tied 3-3 in extra innings, the Pioneers walked off in the eighth on a game-winning sacrifice fly by sophomore designated player Ashley Melendez (Levittown, N.Y.).

After junior outfielder Claire Travis (East Meadow, N.Y.) was placed on second to start the inning and subsequently sacrificed over to third, the Dolphins (13-6) intentionally walked the next two batters to set the stage for Melendez's heroics.

The green and gold got on the board first in the contest, when freshman outfielder Abbey Fortin (Langley, British Columbia, Canada) launched a lead-off solo home run in the bottom of the second.

Le Moyne evened the score in the third though, before LIU Post re-took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Melendez provided the offensive firepower yet again, lacing a two-RBI single to give the Pioneers a 3-1 advantage.

Senior pitcher Ashley Martin (Long Beach, N.Y.) tossed 1.2 innings of two-hit, two-strikeout ball, en route to earning the win. Sophomore pitcher Hannah Olshevski (Robbinsville, N.J.) received the no-decision, allowing six hits, four runs (three earned) and three walks with two strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work.

Game #2: LIU Post 3, No. 22 Wayne State (Mich.) 11
In the nightcap, the Pioneers (6-4) jumped out to a 1-0 first-inning lead, behind an RBI single off the bat of sophomore catcher Julia Seader (Piscataway, N.J.).

However, the Warriors scored 11 unanswered runs over the next six innings to pull away for the victory.

The green and gold managed to get two runs back in the seventh, but were unable to complete the comeback. Melendez and senior infielder Kayla McCoy (Smithtown, N.Y.) each drove in an RBI in the inning.

Freshman pitcher Katie Humhej (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada) took the loss in the decision. She went 6.1 innings, scattering nine runs (eight earned) and one walk with one strikeout.

Head Coach Jamie Apicella and his LIU Post squad return to action Thursday (Mar. 16), when they take on Adelphi University in their 2017 home opener at the LIU Post Softball Complex in Brookville, N.Y. First pitch is slated for 1:30 p.m.