BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Apr. 13, 2017) - Sophomore pitcher James Varela (Levittown, N.Y.) threw seven shutout innings Thursday to propel the LIU Post baseball team to a 3-0 blanking of East Coast Conference nemesis Queens College at the LIU Post Baseball Field.

Varela let up just one hit and four walks and struck out eight in seven innings of work, en route to earning his first victory of 2017.

The Pioneers (15-13, 7-4 ECC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, after a two-RBI single by sophomore catcher Anthony Vaglica (Franklin Square, N.Y.).

Senior first baseman Thomas Asbaty (Randolph, N.J.) and sophomore outfielder Dave Brehm (Bohemia, N.Y.) led off the frame with back-to-back singles to set the stage for Vaglica.

Then, in the second, junior outfielder Rob Andreoli (North Wantagh, N.Y.) lined a two-out RBI single to left to increase the green and gold's advantage to 3-1.

Senior pitcher Brian Tinney (Farmingdale, N.Y.) scattered two hits and worked a scoreless eighth, while fellow senior Dan Jagiello (West Islip, N.Y.) converted his seventh save opportunity.

Head Coach Mike Gaffney and his LIU Post squad are back in action Saturday (Apr. 15), when they face Queens in an ECC doubleheader in Flushing. First pitch is set for noon.