NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Mar. 30, 2017) - On Friday, the LIU Post softball team earned a sweep of non-conference foe Southern Connecticut State University at Pelz Field in New Haven.

The Pioneers, who improved to 9-9 overall, knocked off the Owls (2-11) by scores of 5-1 and 10-1 in the doubleheader.

Game #1: LIU Post 5, Southern Conn. St. 1
In the opener, the Pioneers broke through for the game's first run in the fourth, after escaping a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the third.

Following an Abbey Fortin (Langley, British Columbia, Canada) two-out double, junior infielder Gianna Gatto (Hauppauge, N.Y.) drove her in with an RBI single to put the visitors on the scoreboard.

Then, in the fifth inning, the green and gold exploded for four runs to increase their lead to 5-1. Fortin and sophomore catcher Julia Seader (Piscataway, N.J.) each laced an RBI hit in the frame.

Sophomore pitcher Hannah Olshevski (Robbinsville, N.J.) threw a complete game in the win. She allowed just six hits, one run and two walks and struck out five to move to 5-2 on the year.

Game #2: LIU Post 10, Southern Conn. St. 1 - F/5
Trailing 1-0 through two innings in the nightcap, the Pioneers went ahead for good in the third, on a two-RBI single by Seader.

Sophomore designated player Ashley Melendez (Levittown, N.Y.) followed Seader's at-bat with an RBI single of her own to widen the gap to 3-1.

The green and gold eventually led by a three-run margin (4-1), before tacking on a six-spot in the fifth to pull away for the victory. Fortin ignited the offensive outburst for LIU Post in the frame with a two-run homer. 

Freshman pitcher Katie Humhej (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada) pitched five innings of three-hit, one-run, one-walk, two-strikeout ball in the win for the visitors.

Head Coach Jamie Apicella and the Pioneers return to action Saturday (Apr. 1), when they host East Coast Conference opponent St. Thomas Aquinas College at 1:30 p.m. at the LIU Post Softball Complex in Brookville, N.Y.