BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Apr. 17, 2016) - In a clash between the top two squads in the East Coast Conference standings, the No. 22 LIU Post softball team split with New York Institute of Technology on Sunday at the LIU Post Softball Complex.

The Pioneers (27-8-1, 16-2 ECC) fell 5-3 in the opener, before shutting out the Bears (26-10, 17-3 ECC) by a 4-0 final in the nightcap. The win also was the 700th victory in the 18-year career of Head Coach Jamie Apicella.

Game #1: LIU Post 3, NYIT 5
Down 3-0 from the onset of the game, LIU Post chipped away at the deficit and eventually tied it up in the bottom of the second inning.

The Pioneers capitalized on a pair of errors by the Bears in the second frame, en route to plating the game-tying run. After reaching via a fielding miscue to start the inning, junior second baseman Kayla McCoy (Smithtown, N.Y.) later came home on a Leah Mele (Coram, N.Y.) two-out RBI single, closing the gap to 3-2. 

Two batters later, freshman catcher Julia Seader (Piscataway, N.J.) pulled the score even with an RBI single through the right side. That play was ignited by Samantha Marrone (Holbrook, N.Y.) taking first base on another NYIT fielding error.

However, the Bears struck right back and re-took the lead on a steal of home in the top of the fourth. That turned out to serve as the game-winning run, as LIU Post was held scoreless for the remainder of the opening contest.

The Pioneers had the opportunity to break it open in the fifth though. With the bases loaded and none out, a Paige Swantek (Smithtown, N.Y.) double play and an Isabella Corrao (Farmingdale, N.Y.) lineout ended the threat.

Game #2: LIU Post 4, NYIT 0
The Pioneers pushed across two runs in each of the final two innings to take the latter game. In the fifth, senior third baseman Maria Palmeri (Middle VIllage, N.Y.) laced a two-RBI single to right field to break the scoreless tie.

Then, in the bottom of the sixth, a pair of RBI doubles from Mele and freshman first baseman Ashley Melendez (Levittown, N.Y.) extended the green and gold's advantage to 4-0.

Earlier in the contest, McCoy made a stellar diving play to keep NYIT from scoring. In the top of the first, junior catcher Madison Smith (Tustin, Calif.) hit a ball into the 3-4 hole that McCoy ranged to her left to grab. She then made the toss to first to retire Smith to end the inning.

Freshman pitcher Hannah Olshevski (Robbinsville, N.J.) commanded her pitches on the afternoon, tossing a three-hit complete-game shutout with two strikeouts.

Head Coach Jamie Apicella and his LIU Post squad are back at it Tuesday (Apr. 19) in Rockville Centre at ECC foe Molloy College. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.