Baseball Takes Final Game of Series VS Dowling

By Christian Arnold
Staff Writer

The Pioneers baseball team defeated the Dowling Golden Lions 3-2 in the second game of a double header on Saturday, April 19. The win snapped a two game losing streak that saw the Pioneers drop the first game to Dowling 9-1 and an 11-2 loss to the Golden Lions on Thursday.

Junior pitcher Mike Eckerle threw six innings for the win on Saturday and allowed eight hits, two runs, and struck out four batters.
It was also Eckerle’s sixth win of the season. Freshman pitcher Dan Jagiello came into the game in the seventh inning for relief, and recorded his first save of the year.

The Pioneers quickly jumped onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. With a runner on first and third designated hitter, junior Anthony Brunetti, grounded into a double play that allowed senior third baseman Tom Tolan to score.

The Golden Lions tied the game in the top of the third off an RBI single and took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth.

LIU post rallied in the bottom of the inning with two runners on second and third. Freshman centerfielder Kenny Daley slammed one out to left field, and allowed freshman first baseman Thomas Asbaty to score from third base.

A fielding error by the Golden Lions second baseman allowed junior shortstop Rick Alessi to reach base, and allowed junior second baseman Angel Vidal to score the go ahead run.

In the first game on Saturday the Pioneers gave up four runs in the first five innings, and their only run came in the bottom of the fourth. Dowling scored two more runs in the sixth, and then added another three in the ninth.

Sophomore pitcher Chris Anderson recorded his third loss of the year, giving up 12 hits, six runs, and walking three batters. He did strikeout four in his 6.1 innings pitched.

On Thursday, April 17, an 11-2 loss, the Pioneers gave up eight runs in the first five innings before they could score a run in the bottom of the sixth. The Golden Lions scored three more runs before the game ended, and LIU Post added one final run in the ninth.

The Pioneers have five games coming up on their schedule, which includes three games against ECC rival the University of Bridgeport Purple Knights on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.