Long Ball Powers No. 17 Softball Past Dowling; 12-3
Box Score BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (May 2, 2014) - The top-seeded and 17th-ranked LIU Post softball team won its opener of the East Coast Conference Championship, downing fourth-seeded Dowling by the score of 12-3 in a six-inning bout on Friday at the LIU Post Softball Complex in Brookville, N.Y.
The Pioneers (42-7) did not wait to start piling on the runs as junior catcher
Aly Dzierzynski (Deer Park, N.Y.) and sophomore third baseman
Maria Palmeri (Middle Village, N.Y.) each blasted a three-run long ball in the bottom of the first inning.
The green and gold added another two runs in the next frame when senior second baseman
Angela Carmine (Westbury, N.Y.) led off by launching her first career roundtripper over the center field fence. Later in the inning, freshman first baseman
Kayla McCoy (Smithtown, N.Y.) singled to the Dowling shortstop to plate Hagenah from second base.
The Golden Lions (24-24) got themselves on the board in the third inning on a Crystal Tarango homer to straightaway center, bringing the score to 8-1 in favor of LIU Post.
The visitors tacked on another two runs in the top of the sixth, courtesy of a two-run dinger off the bat of sophomore shortstop Victoria Gallagher.
But McCoy came to bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth to end the game via mercy rule. The freshman smashed a walk-off grand slam over the left-field fence, giving the Pioneers' the 12-3 advantage.
Dzierzynski, sophomore designated player
Paige Swantek (Smithtown, N.Y.), McCoy, and Palmeri each recorded two hits in the game. McCoy finished with five RBIs, while Palmeri and Dzierzynksi both added three.
Senior hurler
Liz Weber (Brightwaters, N.Y.) earned her 20th win in the circle, tossing six innings of five-hit, three-run, one strikeout ball.
Alisa Fjelstad was tabbed with the loss as she surrendered six runs on four hits in just 0.2 innings.
The Pioneers now advance to face the winner of Queens/Molloy on Saturday (May 3) at 11 a.m.