ROCKVILLE CENTER, N.Y. – The LIU Post baseball team triumphed 7-2 in the opening game of its East Coast Conference (ECC) series with Molloy College Thursday afternoon at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex in a game that saw junior Zach Fritz, the conference leader in home runs, launch the ball over the left field fence for a three RBI homer in the top of the eighth inning.
 
Fritz hit his sixth homer  of the season for the Pioneers while senior Anthony Vaglica and sophomore Christopher Wasson led the way with two hits and one run each. Senior Michael Manzione had one hit and two RBI, sophomore Jahsiah Greene finished with one hit, one RBI and two runs, senior Reynaldo Guillen had one hit and freshman Giovanni Ciaccio finished with one RBI.
 
Senior James Varela earned his seventh win of the season on the mound, striking out five and only allowing two earned runs in his 8.0 innings pitched. With seven wins, Varela is tied for the conference lead while his 94 strikeouts sit atop the conference.
 
It was Molloy who scored the opening run of the game as the Lions took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth. The Pioneers responded in the top of the seventh after Ciaccio walked and Greene scored. LIU Post's lead did not last long as Molloy jumped ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh.
 
In the top of the eighth, Fritz' three RBI home run to left field gave LIU Post a 4-2 advantage.
 
The Pioneers further built their lead in the top of the ninth after a two RBI single to center field by Manzione. Greene reached on a fielder's choice and Wasson scored; the game concluded with a final score of 7-2.
 
Up Next
The Pioneers resume their series with the Lions on Saturday, April 20 in a doubleheader at 12:00 p.m.