No. 15 Softball Sweeps Caldwell
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (April 24, 2013) – For the second time in as many days, the No. 15 LIU Post softball team completed a sweep in walk-off fashion, this time defeating Caldwell College, 2-1, in game one, then coming from behind to score three runs in the seventh and win game two, 3-2, in non-conference softball action on Wednesday evening.
The Pioneers improve to 40-11 overall while Caldwell goes to 35-10.
In the first game, both teams put zeros up for the first two innings, but in the bottom of the third, junior pitcher Liz Weber (Brightwaters, N.Y.) helped her own cause with a solo jack to left field. An inning later, the Pioneers tacked on an insurance run as sophomore Aly Dzierzynski (Deer Park, N.Y.) led off with a double to center. A single to left by freshman Maria Palmeri (Middle Village, N.Y.) put runners on the corners, and freshman Paige Swantek (Smithtown, N.Y.) hit a soft liner to right field. \Palmeri was thrown out at second, but Dzierzynski crossed the plate to put the hosts up 2-0.
Caldwell broke up the shutout in the sixth as Kristen Knorr homered to left field, and threatened for more putting two runners on base with only one out, but Weber got two ground balls to end the threat.
A scoreless seventh by Weber (20-5) sealed the victory as her final line stood at 7.0 innings, scattering six hits and allowing one earned run, walking one and striking out three. She also finished 2-for-3 at the plate, while Palmeri also collected two hits.
Caldwell's Kourtney Wilson took the loss, allowing two earned runs on seven hits.
Game two was another pitching duel as Caldwell's Amber Padilla kept the Pioneers scoreless through six. Sophomore Megan Salcido (Brawley, Calif.) matched her zeros, allowing only three hits through five innings. Freshman Quincy Lewis (Corning, N.Y.) came on in the sixth and surrendered two runs on an error and an RBI single to short, but she settled down to get out of the inning and kept the Cougars off the board in the top of the seventh, setting the stage for the comeback.
Swantek singled up the middle to lead things off, and sophomore Jessica Julich (Kings Park, N.Y.) came on as a pinch runner. After a lineout to second base, sophomore Samantha Miller (East Meadow, N.Y.) singled to right field putting two runners on for Weber, who ripped a double down the left field line to score Julich and cut the deficit to 2-1. Padilla got sophomore Catherine Havens (Eastport, N.Y.) to ground out to short, bringing junior Alexis Gonzalez (Hauppauge, N.Y.) to the plate with two on and two out. Gonzalez came up big, lifting a single into right field that allowed both runners to score easily and the Pioneers to complete the sweep.
Lewis got the win in relief, improving to 8-4 on the season, while Padilla took the loss, allowing three runs on ten hits in six and two thirds innings. Weber completed her stellar day with a 4-for-4 showing at the plate, while Havens finished with two hits.
The Pioneers will look to wrap up their regular season in winning fashion, hosting NYIT on Friday at 1 p.m. followed by a visit to Queens on Saturday at noon.