SPARKILL, N.Y. – The LIU Post softball team hit four home runs as the Pioneers took two games from Saint Thomas Aquinas College in East Coast Conference play on Saturday, April 13.
 
Senior Julia Seader collected four hits on the day, two via the long ball for her 12th and 13th home run of the season. Sophomore Patricia Dun also sent one out of the park for her first homer of the season as part of two hits, while senior Ashley Melendez also added two hits and sophomore Hanna Finkelstein hit one home run.
 
The LIU Post pitching staff surrendered just one earned run and nine total hits on the day, as junior Katie Humhej and senior Hannah Olshevski struck out three batters each during complete-game victories.
 
Game One: LIU Post 3, STAC 1
 
After two scoreless innings, Melendez led off the top of the third with a single and junior Ashley Casazza advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt after coming on as a pinch runner. Following a Seader single, junior Fortin gave the Pioneers the lead with a two-out single to center field.
 
Humhej allowed just two hits through the first four innings to keep Saint Thomas Aquinas off the scoreboard. LIU Post extended its lead during the top of the fifth when Seader crushed a two-out home run to left field to put the Green and Gold ahead 2-0.
 
Junior Allie Laird put the game out of reach during the top of the seventh when she doubled home Dun to make it 3-0. The Spartans rallied briefly to begin the bottom half of the frame, leading off the inning with a triple and scoring one run, but Humhej stranded two runners on base to earn her 17th victory of the season.
 
Game Two: LIU Post 3, STAC 1
 
Game two saw a very similar start with two scoreless innings before LIU Post took a lead during the top of the third inning. With two outs, Seader lifted her second home run of the day to right field, putting the Green and Gold up 1-0. The Pioneers extended their lead during the fifth stanza when Dun hit her first home run in 62 games, doubling the advantage to two runs.
 
The Spartans scored one unearned run during the bottom of the fifth before Olshevski stranded two runners on base to end the threat. The Green and Gold added an insurance run late as Finkelstein led off the final inning with the fourth solo home run of the day for LIU Post, helping the Pioneers hang on for a 3-1 victory.
 
LIU Post returns to action tomorrow for two games against No. 13 Southern New Hampshire University at 12:00 p.m.