BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – It was an instant classic for the LIU Post baseball team in its season opener with the University of Bridgeport, as the Pioneers stormed from behind to score three runs in the bottom of the ninth to earn a 3-2 walk-off victory against the Purple Knights March 29.

After having their bats silenced for the duration of the contest, the Pioneers racked up three hits and drew three walks to come from behind for the victory, improving to 4-1 in East Coast Conference play this season. Junior Anthony Vaglica set the tone for the inning when he worked a leadoff walk to bring the tying run to the plate and classmate Michael Manzione followed suit with a single to right-center field to put two men on with no outs.

The two base runners forced Bridgeport head coach Joe Tonelli to turn to his bullpen for the first time during the game, and junior Dave Brehm earned a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Fellow junior Michael Greene could not have picked a better time for his first hit of the season, as he ripped a single to left-center field to level the scoring at 2-2. Two batters later, senior Joe Piscitelli sent the home fans home happy as he sent a seeing-eye single through the left side of the infield to drive home Brehm for the victory.

Senior Joe Spitaleri tallied two hits on the day, while Manzione added two hits as well. Greene's two RBIs led the Pioneers on a day where LIU Post did not record a single extra-base hit.

On the mound, junior James Varela shook off a first-inning home run to shut down the Purple Knights the rest of the way, recording his fourth consecutive complete game. Varela allowed just four hits and struck out nine batters to improve to a perfect 6-0 on the mound this season.

The Pioneers will look to keep things rolling tomorrow, March 30 when they host the Purple Knights in game two of the four-game home stand beginning at 3:30 p.m.