MANCHESTER, N.H. (May 20, 2017) - On Saturday, freshman first baseman Zach Fritz (East Meadow, N.Y.) hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh to lead the No. 4 LIU Post baseball team to a 9-5 win against seventh-seeded Dominican College in an elimination game at the 2017 NCAA Division II East Region Championship at Penmen Field.

With the victory, the Pioneers (32-19) will now face the winner of the contest between second-seeded University of New Haven and No. 5 seed Felician University on Sunday (May 21) at noon.

Trailing 4-3 in the top of the sixth, senior designated hitter Thomas Asbaty (Randolph, N.J.) pulled the green and gold even at 4-4 with a lead-off solo homer to right.

Then, in the seventh, junior outfielder Rob Andreoli (North Wantagh, N.Y.) and sophomore catcher Anthony Vaglica (Franklin Square, N.Y.) opened the inning with back-to-back singles, before Fritz drilled his second homer of the day to left-center to put LIU Post in front for good.

The Chargers (22-29) got a run back though in their half of the seventh to close the gap to 7-5 and managed to put the tying runs on base in the eighth.

However, senior closer Dan Jagiello (West Islip, N.Y.) came on in relief and fanned a pair of batters to end the threat. He would record four of the final five outs via strikeout to preserve the win.

Sophomore pitcher James Varela (Levittown, N.Y.) earned the victory in the decision. He tossed 7.1 innings of seven-hit, five-run (three earned), four-walk, 10-strikeout ball. It was Varela's first double-digit strikeout game of his collegiate career.

Fritz finished 3-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored in the contest. Vaglica and junior shortstop Joe Spitaleri (Levittown, N.Y.) both went 3-for-5, as well. Asbaty batted 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

For the most up-to-date bracket of the 2017 NCAA Division II East Region Championship, please click here.