By Michael Otero
Sports Editor
After a scheduling change, the baseball team returned to the diamond on Saturday, April 11, against the Golden Lions from Dowling College. They took the first of a trio of games over the weekend by a score of 7-2 from Brookhaven, N.Y.
The Golden Lions got on the board first in the third inning curtesy of an RBI triple. They tacked on another run in that inning on a double from senior catcher Daniel Parisi. After that small hiccup, sophomore pitcher Jake DeCarli settled down and pitched into the eighth inning without allowing another run. He went 7.2 innings while allowing five hits and striking out four.
Trailing by two runs in the sixth inning, the Pioneer offense went to work. In that inning, freshman first baseman Lou Doria drove in a run to cut the lead in half while senior shortstop Rick Alessi plated another run in that inning to even the score at two. Freshman outfielder Rob Andreoli contributed big-time to the Pioneer efforts with a two-run single to put LIU Post up 4-2.
In the next inning, the Pioneers added to their lead when Doria launched his second home run of the season, making it a 6-2 ball game. In the eighth inning, sophomore catcher Thomas Asbaty drove in another run for good measure, which rounded out the scoring on the afternoon.
Junior pitcher Dillon Burke worked a perfect 1.1 innings while striking out two to put a cap on the game. The Pioneers and Golden Lions faced off again on Sunday, April 12, in a doubleheader, but this time in Brookville, N.Y.
The first game saw the Golden Lions explode offensively for 15 runs. On the other side, the Pioneers only managed one run off of senior pitcher Brenden Butler who tossed seven of scoreless baseballs.
In the nightcap, the Pioneers again found themselves in an early hole. After allowing two runs in the top of the first inning, the Pioneers looked to respond in their half. Sophomore outfielder Kenny Daley led off the inning with a homer to cut the lead in half. Later in the first, red-shirt senior Anthony Brunetti touched home on a hit by sophomore catcher Kyle Fagan to tie the game at two. The Green and Gold tacked on another run to claim a 3-2 lead after six outs.
After the Pioneers and Golden Lions exchanged more runs in the coming innings, both sides found themselves deadlocked at four. On their half of the sixth inning, the Pioneers drove in three runs, which put them in great position to earn the win. After a fielding error loaded the bases, Andreoli scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error by the Golden Lions. After an RBI walk and sacrifice fly, Fagan contributed again, this time with an RBI groundout.
Senior pitcher Connor McCarthy earned his second victory of the season, striking out seven and only allowing two earned runs over a seven-inning span. Head Coach Mike Gaffney and his team return to action on Thursday, April 16, when they welcome Dominican College to Brookville, N.Y. Game time is slated for 3:30 p.m.
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