Softball Sweeps Merrimack; 3-1, 12-5
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
SMITHFIELD, R.I. (March 29, 2013) - The LIU Post softball team picked up two regional wins Friday afternoon with a double header sweep of Merrimack College by scores of 3-1 and 12-5.
LIU Post improves to 14-5, while Merrimack falls to 5-9.
The Pioneers jumped to a 3-0 lead with a run in the second off a
Kelsey McLaughlin (Lido Beach, N.Y.) RBI double and two in the third with RBI doubles by
Paige Swantek (Smithtown, N.Y.) and McLaughlin.
Merrimack's Lindsay Gibbs crossed the plate in the bottom half of the third on an obstruction call on the Pioneers' defense.
Junior
Liz Weber (Brightwaters, N.Y.) would keep the Warriors off the board the remainder of the game, tossing six and one-third innings while scattering six hits and fanning nine. Freshman
Quincy Lewis (Corning, N.Y.) relieved Weber in the seventh with one out and was able to record her second save of the season by sitting down the final two Warriors to come to the plate.
In game two, the Pioneers once again scored first when a
Nicole Hagenah (Commack, N.Y.) RBI groundout plated
Catherine Havens (Eastport, N.Y.). Merrimack was able to pull ahead with two runs in the bottom half of the inning courtesy of a Gibbs RBI double and a Helen Gillis RBI groundout. LIU Post got the run back in the top of the second when
Jessica Julich (Kings Park, N.Y.) tripled to right center, scoring
Maria Palmeri (Middle Village, N.Y.), but the Warriors once again tacked on a run in the bottom half to pull ahead.
In the fourth, Weber drew a bases loaded walk to force in McLaughlin to tie the game at three, but Merrimack once again had an answer, scoring two runs on an RBI groundout and a Pioneer miscue to pull ahead 5-3. That was the last lead Merrimack would see as the Pioneer offense exploded in the sixth inning for nine runs on six hits and two Merrimack errors. Hagenah had three RBI in the inning with a single to score Havens and another single later on to score Weber and Havens once again.
Lewis relieved
Megan Salcido (Brawley, Calif.) in the circle, pitching the final four innings while just allowing three hits and striking out five earning her first collegiate win.
Palmeri led the Pioneers at the plate with a 6-for-7 afternoon, stroking two doubles for two RBI and two runs scored. McLaughlin and Hagenah each added two doubles on the day, while Hagenah also knocked in four RBI.
The Pioneers continue their New England trip tomorrow with a double header against Southern New Hampshire University at 12 and 2, playing at American International College.