By Thomas Asbaty
Staff Writer
On April 11, the softball team split a double header with the No.25 ranked Caldwell University in a non-conference matchup at the LIU Post softball complex.
The 15-15 Pioneers suffered a 7-1 loss in the first game, before coming back and taking a win 7-4 in the second game. “Splitting with the number one seed in the region was a success because their program has been very successful this year,” sophomore catcher Julia Seader, a physical education major, said.
In the first game, the Pioneers feel behind early, 3-0, until junior in fielder Claire Travis ripped an RBI single in the bottom of the second, making it 3-1. In the third inning, the Pioneers had the tying runs on base when Seader walked to lead the inning and freshman out fielder Abbey Fortin singled. Post was unable to score the runs, though, as Cougars’ pitcher Sydney Ponto retired the next three batters closing the inning.
Sophomore pitcher Hannah Olsheviki got the loss, throwing seven innings of nine hit balls, five walks and two strikeouts.
Game two was tied at three going into the bottom of the third inning, when the Pioneers put up a four spot taking a 7-3 lead, making it their largest lead of the day.
Junior out fielder Samantha Marrone laced a RBI single and Jaclyn Hahn drew a walk with the bases loaded.
In the fifth inning, the 23-10 Cougars’ cut into the lead with a Marisa Monasseri solo homerun off freshman pitcher Katie Humhej. Humhej got her third win of the year. She threw seven innings of four hit balls, four runs (three earned) two walks, and two strikeouts.
“I wanted to go out and do my best to help the team leave the field with a win,” Humhej, a health science major, said about her start.
The Pioneers have had four major injuries this year, sidelining senior pitcher Ashley Martin, senior out fielder Mackenzie Buckley, junior in fielder Leah Mele and sophomore out fielder Marisa San Antiono.
The team currently sits sixth in the ECC at 3-5 with a few weeks left in the season. To make a playoff push, “We need to work together as a team and play as loose as we can. In order to really succeed we need to believe that we are number one,” Seader said.
The Pioneers defeated Bridgeport 4-0 and 11-7 on Thursday’s game and again defeated Merrimack College in two games winning 4-2 and 6-5 on Friday. The team’s next game is a home game on Monday, April 17 where they will be playing Saint Thomas Aquinas College at 3 and 5p.m.
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