No. 17 Softball Advances to ECC Championship Game
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (May 3, 2014) - After losing a one-run contest to Molloy, the top-seeded LIU Post softball team staved off elimination from the East Coast Conference Championship with a 10-5 victory over Dowling at the LIU Post Softball Complex in Brookville, N.Y.
In Game One, Molloy (30-20-1) put up an early run in the bottom of the first when left fielder Dayna White doubled home shortstop Nicolette Sinagra. White added another RBI in the third on a single through the left side.
A four-run fourth inning then put the Pioneers (43-8) in front as junior catcher
Aly Dzierzynski (Deer Park, N.Y.), freshman first baseman
Kayla McCoy (Smithtown, N.Y.), and junior right fielder
Samantha Miller (East Meadow, N.Y.) all knocked in runs in the frame.
Homers by Sinagra and senior center fielder
Alexis Gonzalez (Hauppauge, N.Y.) moved the score to 5-3 heading to the bottom of the fifth, but the Lions put up a three-spot on a solo homer by White and a two-run long ball by first baseman Victoria Gunnels to clinch the lead and hold on for the win.
Chelsea Hawks (15-8) earned the victory in the decision, as she went five innings, surrendering five runs (two earned) on five hits. Tracey Balinskas picked up her third save of the season, allowing just one hit over the final two innings.
In Game Two, the Pioneers once again fell behind as Dowling (25-25) scored two runs in the top of the first on sacrifice flies off the bats of first baseman Jamie Laird and catcher Samantha Laird.
But in the bottom of the second, three straight RBI base hits drove in four runs. Miller knocked in two, while junior left fielder
Catherine Havens (Eastport, N.Y.) and senior second baseman
Angela Carmine (Westbury, N.Y.) added one apiece.
A two-RBI single to center by Dowling's left fielder Marie Racano knotted the score at 4-4, but the Pioneers came right back with a sacrifice fly off the bat of sophomore third baseman
Maria Palmeri (Middle Village, N.Y.) to re-take the lead.
The green and gold extended their lead to 7-4 courtesy of a two-RBI double to right center by Dzierzynski. Samantha Laird came up in the next frame and sent a solo shot over the fence in left, but it was not enough as a Gonzalez four-bagger and an RBI single up the middle by sophomore designated player
Paige Swantek (Smithtown, N.Y.) gave the Pioneers a 10-5 advantage.
Senior
Liz Weber (Brightwaters, N.Y.) improved to 21-3 in the circle, tossing 4.2 innings of 10-hit, five-run, one-walk, one-strikeout ball. Sophomore
Quincy Lewis (Corning, N.Y.) finished out the game to earn her eighth save of the season.
Senior shortstop
Nicole Hagenah (Commack, N.Y.) finished the nightcap 3-for-3 with three runs scored.
The Pioneers advance to the ECC Championship against Molloy on Sunday (May 4) at 10 a.m. at the LIU Post Softball Complex in Brookville, N.Y.