Alexis Gonzalez

No. 18 Softball Wraps Up Road Trip With Sweep of Dowling

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BROOKHAVEN, N.Y. (Apr. 16, 2014) - Four different Pioneers registered multi-RBI outings Wednesday, as the 18th-ranked LIU Post softball team bested East Coast Conference arch-rival Dowling, 7-3 and 11-1, at Golden Lions Field in Brookhaven, N.Y.

The green and gold got out to a hot start in the opener, tallying a three-spot in the top of the first. Junior catcher Aly Dzierzynski (Deer Park, N.Y.) opened up the scoring for LIU Post (29-5, 15-1 ECC) with a bases loaded RBI single. Two other runs came home via Dowling (17-18, 10-8 ECC) errors. Two innings later, a Paige Swantek (Smithtown, N.Y.) one-out RBI single up the middle extended the visitors' advantage to 4-0.

The Golden Lions eventually trimmed the deficit to one run (4-3) in the fifth, until a three-run sixth by the Pioneers put the game away for good. Senior shortstop Nicole Hagenah (Commack, N.Y.) and Swantek slapped RBI infield singles in the effort, while sophomore third baseman Maria Palmeri (Middle Village, N.Y.) drove Hagenah in, via an RBI single to left field.

Senior pitcher Liz Weber (Brightwaters, N.Y.) got the win in the circle. She tossed 5.1 frames of four-hit, three-run (one earned), three-walk, five-strikeout ball. Sophomore hurler Quincy Lewis (Corning, N.Y.) pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief.

In the nightcap, Dowling tagged freshman pitcher Ashley Martin (Long Beach, N.Y.) in the bottom of the third for one run to grab a 1-0 lead. Sophomore catcher Samantha Laird singled in Marie Racano on the play.

But, LIU Post pushed across 11 runs over the next two frames to enforce the mercy rule, and end the contest after five innings. A grand slam by senior outfielder Alexis Gonzalez (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and a two-RBI single from Dzierzynski anchored the offensive onslaught. Hagenah and junior outfielder Catherine Havens (Eastport, N.Y.) also collected RBIs, off a respective groundout and infield single.

Martin pitched five innings in the victory, allowing four hits, one run and three walks with three strikeouts. Additionally, Alisa Fjelstad was saddled with the loss (4.0 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 2 SO) for the Golden Lions.

Head Coach Jamie Apicella and the Pioneers are back in action Thursday (Apr. 17), when they host ECC nemesis Bridgeport at the LIU Post Softball Complex in Brookville, N.Y. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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