C.W. Post improves to 36-12 overall while Caldwell slips to 27-21. C.W. Post will return to action this Thursday in the opening round of the East Coast Conference Championships at Dowling College, where the third-seeded Pioneers will square off against the second-seeded Lions of Molloy College.

 

 

In the early matinee game, the Pioneers put up a 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the third inning, starting with an RBI base hit to right field from freshman designated player Jessica Julich (Kings Park, N.Y.).  Junior catcher Kristen Morcone (Milford, Mass.) brought home the second and third runs of the inning with single back to the pitcher.

 

C.W. Post added another run in the fifth when junior second baseman Kendall Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) singled to centerfield that scored junior centerfielder Kerry Fisher (Barto, Pa.) from third.

 

Bright led the Pioneer bats, going 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run. Sophomore first baseman Kaci Hopkins (New Egypt, N.J.) was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

 

Senior Christina Berardi (Raynham, Mass.) pitched her 21st complete game and ninth shutout of the season to earn her 20th victory. Berardi scattered six hits over seven innings with six strikeouts and lowered her season ERA to 1.41.

 

Caldwell was led in hits by Nicole Velardi, who was 2-for-3. Brittany Pulido took the loss in the circle, allowing three earned runs on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

 

In the afternoon game, C.W. Post took a 1-0 lead in the third on a single to center off the bat of Fisher. 

 

The Pioneers unloaded in the fifth and scored five runs on four hits. The scoring began when junior right fielder Krysta Palazzo (Sea Cliff, N.Y.) singled to right field to score sophomore shortstop Nicole Fierro (East Hampton, N.Y.) from second. Hopkins came to the plate and singled through the left side to bring home Palazzo and sophomore catcher Nicole Capella (Shirley, N.Y.), who had reached base on a hit by pitch. Fisher, who led the team with three RBI in the game, got her second hit of the game with a double to centerfield that scored Hopkins and freshman left fielder Carly Chamberlain (Nesco, N.J.).

 

Fisher led the Pioneers at the plate going 2-for-3 with three RBI. Hopkins was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

 

Senior Sarah Kiser (Arnold, Md.) returned to form and won her 16^th game of the season. Kiser let up one run on three hits over seven innings while striking out 10 batters.