GAFFNEY, S.C. - Three runs batted in by junior
Joe Piscitelli in game one led the LIU Post baseball team to a split with Gannon University Saturday during the team's final games in its first trip south this season.
Piscitelli went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs in a 7-2 victory during game one. Sophomore
Zach Fritz finished the day 4-for-6 with three runs scored, while juniors
Anthony Vaglica and
Dave Brehm contributed three-hit efforts as well.
Game One - LIU Post 7, Gannon 2
The Pioneers took the lead in the top of the first inning when Fritz singled home senior
Ramger Iglesias after Iglesias reached on an error to lead off the game. The lead did not last long, however, as Gannon responded with an unearned run of their own to make it 1-1 through the first frame.
The Pioneers took control in the fourth inning, plating two runs behind a Piscitelli RBI single and another Gannon error to go ahead 3-1. The Golden Knights cut the lead in half during the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Green and Gold responded with four runs during its final at-bat. Brehm singled to right field to bring home Fritz to start the scoring, and freshman
Jahsiah Greene laced a single through the middle and Piscitelli knocked a two-run double to left-center to put the game out of reach.
Sophomore
Julien Arcos tossed six solid innings on the mount, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out three to earn the victory.
Game Two - Gannon 8, LIU Post 7
A two-run home run in the Golden Knights final at-bat downed the Pioneers in their weekend finale during game two. Gannon jumped ahead 4-0 during its first two at-bats, but the Pioneers responded with two runs in the bottom of the second inning and followed up with a single run in the third on an RBI fielder's choice by Brehm. After Gannon plated two runs behind a solo home run and an RBI single, the Pioneers leveled the scoring in the bottom of the fifth when Vaglica and Brehm doubled home one run each, and sophomore
Matthew Gutleber beat out a double-play ball to make it 6-6 through five innings.
After the Golden Knights went down in order in the top of the sixth, Iglesias reached on a bunt single, and immediately stole second base to put the go-ahead run in scoring position. Spitaleri followed up with another bunt single and had bases loaded after a walk to Fritz. A wild pitch allowed Spitaleri to score and give the Pioneers a 7-6 lead heading into the final inning.
LIU Post recorded two quick outs to begin the inning, but Gannon stayed alive with a single to left field. Kyle Cox followed up the base knock with a two-run homer to left field, giving the Golden Knights an 8-7 advantage with three outs to play. Deven Judy set the Pioneers down in order, striking out the side to earn the save for the Golden Knights who held on for the one-run victory.
The Pioneers return to action on Thursday, Feb. 22 when they travel to Myrtle Beach for the Ripken Experience Northeast Challenge. The Pioneers start the weekend with a matchup against Merrimack College at 6:00 p.m.