WEST BABYLON, N.Y. – It was an extremely successful week for LIU Post athletics and the East Coast Conference honored five individuals with weekly awards for their outstanding performances.
Softball's
Katie Humhej and baseball's
James Varela garnered Pitcher of the Week accolades, while men's lacrosse's
Connor Farrell earned Player of the Week recognition, and baseball's
Giovanni Ciaccio and women's lacrosse's
Hailey Duchnowski were named Rookie of the Week.
Humhej posted a 5-0 record in five starts to begin her 2019 campaign during LIU Post's softball swing at THE Spring Games in Clermont. In her season debut, Humhej tossed a shutout against No. 1 ranked Saint Anselm College. For the week, Humhej allowed just four total runs while striking out 18 batters. Her two shutouts helped lead to a 0.45 earned run average on the week.
Varela had an outstanding showing on the mound for in the Pioneers during their 5-0 win against East Stroudsburg University in Cary, N.C. at the USA Baseball Complex on Friday. Varela went the distance and struck out nine batters to earn the shutout victory. Ciaccio appeared three out of the Pioneers' four games in North Carolina, leading the Pioneers with seven hits and a .538 batting average. On the week, Ciaccio hit three doubles, scored three runs, and notched two RBI and a stolen base. Against Clarion on Sunday, Ciaccio went 3-for-5 with three doubles, two RBI and two runs.
On the turf, Farrell helped lead LIU Post to an upset of reigning national champion and No. 1 ranked Merrimack College with a record-setting performance. Farrell set two NCAA Division II records by winning 34 faceoffs and collecting 30 ground balls. Farrell helped LIU Post force overtime with a crucial faceoff win during the final minute of regulation and also gave the Pioneers possession to begin overtime by winning the opening draw. On the offensive end, Snelders tallied five total goals, scoring the tying goal at the end of regulation before netting the game-winner during overtime.
On the women's side, Duchnowski combined for 29 saves last week, notching 14 in the Pioneers' 11-9 win against No. 14/17 Pace University on Wednesday, and added a career-high 15 against No. 1/1 Le Moyne College on Saturday.