David Otero
Sports Editor
The Pioneers dominated Mercy College on Saturday, March 23 in both games of a double-header, defeating the Mavericks 12-4 and 7-2. The matchups against Mercy (7-10) marked the first two East Coast Conference games for the Pioneers this season, as well as the first home games of the year. The Pioneers started off the 2013 campaign with a ten-game trip down to Kissimmee, Florida in the Rebel Spring Games.
In the first contest on Saturday afternoon, the Pioneers (9-4) jumped out to a quick start scoring nine runs through the first three innings. Freshman catcher, Paige Swantek, smacked a three-run double to begin the onslaught. In the bottom of the second inning, the Pioneers added two more runs without even hitting the ball. Junior shortstop, Nicole Hagenah, and sophomore catcher, Aly Dzierzynski, each walked with the bases loaded to make it 5-0 in favor of LIU Post.
The Mavericks made things interesting with a three-run third inning, but the Pioneers responded back with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore leftfielder, Catherine Havens, and Hegenah, both drove in a run with RBI singles.
Pioneers’ junior pitcher, Liz Weber (5-3), a member of the 2012 ECC First Team, went the distance. She threw six innings, allowing two runs and striking out five batters.
The latter half of the double dip was more competitive. The score was evened up at one until the bottom of the fourth inning when the Pioneers put up a crooked number on the scoreboard. LIU Post had a six-run inning which ultimately was enough for the win behind the strong effort of sophomore pitcher, Megan Salcido (2-0). She threw seven innings allowing only one earned run.
Hegenah and Dzierzynski led the way for the Pioneers as both players had two RBI’s. Dzierzynski has driven in at least one run in four consecutive games.
The next time the Pioneers are in action is on Thursday, March 28 as they square off in a double-header against Stonehill College (8-12) at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
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