LYNDHURST, N.J. – The LIU Post baseball team improved to 6-5 on the season with a doubleheader sweep of Felician University Sunday, March 4.
 
Senior Rob Andreoli finished the day 4-for-7 at the plate, scoring three runs while junior Dave Brehm added three hits and four runs batted in between the two games. Senior Joe Spitaleri added two hits and scored three runs during the sweep.
 
Game One – LIU Post 6, Felician 2
 
Junior James Varela was impressive on the mound once again, tossing seven innings while only allowing two runs on three hits. In the process, he also fanned eight batters, giving him an East Coast Conference-best 26 strikeouts on the year.
 
The Pioneers led throughout in the day's opener, plating three runs in the top of the first inning. After jumping ahead on a passed ball, sophomore Zach Fritz drove in Spitaleri with a sacrifice fly to right field. Later in the inning, junior Dave Brehm singled through the left side to bring in Andreoli and give Varela all the run support he would need.
 
In the third inning, Brehm sent a shot to left center for a ground-rule double, scoring two runs. The Golden Falcons got on the board in the bottom half of the inning, but Varela stranded two in scoring position to get out of the jam. Felician tacked on another run in the fifth, but it was not enough as Varela silenced the Golden Falcon bats, allowing just one baserunner during his final three innings. Sophomore Julien Arcos closed things out with two scoreless innings in relief to help the Pioneers improve to .500 on the season with a 6-2 win in game one.
 
Game Two – LIU Post 2, Felician 1 (8 Inn.)
 
The backend of the doubleheader was a true pitcher's duel in the cold. The two teams combined for just three runs on six hits throughout the contest, with sophomore Noah Lorenzo leading the way with seven innings on the mound for the Pioneers. Lorenzo allowed just one run on three hits while striking out two to improve to 2-1 on the season.
 
Following two scoreless innings, the Pioneers took the lead when Brehm laid down a bunt single down the third base line, and Spitaleri rounded third and scored from second base to give LIU Post a 1-0 advantage. Lorenzo retired the side in order in the bottom half of the inning, but the Golden Falcons tied the score during the bottom of the fourth when Jason Aponte grounded out with runners on second and third, bringing in the only run of the contest for Felician. Just one hit was recorded during the next three innings, and the teams headed to extra innings in a game scheduled for seven frames. Andreoli led off the eighth with a double, and the Pioneers eventually loaded the bases after a walk and a fielder's choice. With one out, junior Sal Geraci was hit by a pitch to bring in the go-ahead run, but Felician stranded three runners on base to end the Pioneer threat.
 
Freshman Joseph Valentino came on in relief in the bottom of the eighth, and allowed just one baserunner via a one-out walk, shutting down Felician for the first save of his career.
 
The Pioneers return to action on Thursday, March 8 when they travel to Pleasantville for a non-conference matchup with Pace University at 3:30 p.m.