NEW CASTLE, Del. – It was a defensive battle in both games, but the Pioneers delivered the big hit when needed as the LIU Post softball team swept Wilmington University in non-conference action Sunday, March 25.
 
Junior Julia Seader had a big day offensively, breaking out for four hits in seven at-bats, delivering a two-run home run and scoring two runs on the day. Freshman Patricia Dun added three hits, one run, and one RBI, while three others delivered two hits apiece.
 
In the circle, sophomore Katie Humhej tossed an eight-inning complete game with 10 strikeouts to earn the win in game two, while junior Hannah Olshevski added a complete game in game one for her fifth win of the season.
 
Game One – LIU Post 3, Wilmington 1
 
It was a bit of a pitcher's duel in game one, as the two teams combined for just 11 hits and four runs in the day's opener. The Pioneers stranded a runner in scoring position in the first inning but it did not come back to hurt them as Olshevski retired the first six batters in order to start the game.
 
With two outs in the top of the third, Seader ripped a double to right field. Dun followed suit with a two-bagger down the left field line to score the game's first run and put the Pioneers ahead 1-0. The Wildcats threatened in the bottom half of the frame, loading the bases with two outs but Olshevski shut the door by inducing a fly out to center field to end the inning.
 
In the top of the fourth, the Pioneers plated a run for the second consecutive inning when senior Gianna Gatto delivered a clutch two-out single to double the advantage to 2-0. The two-out hits continued in the fifth when Dun doubled to center field to set up an RBI-single by sophomore Abbey Fortin to put the Green and Gold ahead 3-0.
 
The Wildcats threatened, but Olshevski stranded three runners in scoring position during the fifth and sixth innings, allowing just one run to earn the win.
 
Game Two – LIU Post 3, Wilmington 2 (8 Inn.)
 
Game two proved to be another matchup of strong pitching, as the dueling pitchers combined for 21 strikeouts in a contest that needed extra innings to decide a winner. Humhej matched her career-high with 10 strikeouts in the contest, scattering four hits and allowing just two unearned runs.
 
Both teams stranded a runner in scoring position during the first three innings, but Wilmington broke through in the fourth on a throwing error by the Pioneers to take a 1-0 advantage. Seader had the response in the next half inning, however, as the left-hander launched a two-out, two-run home run over the right-center field fence to give LIU Post a 2-1 advantage. The lead would not last though, as Wilmington plated the tying run on another error by the Green and Gold and Humhej stranded a runner on third in the sixth inning to force extra innings.
 
It was the Pioneers turn to take advantage of a Wildcat miscue in the first extra frame, as freshman Hannah Finkelstein and Seader singled to lead-off the stanza before Dun reached on a bunt single and the Pioneers plated the go-ahead run on a Wilmington throwing error on the play. Wildcat pitcher Makayla McCarthy stopped the threat by retiring the next three batters in order, but Humhej answered by retiring the side in order in the bottom of the inning to help LIU Post hang on for the win.
 
The Pioneers return to action on Tuesday, March 27 when they open East Coast Conference play against St. Thomas Aquinas College at 2:30 p.m.