BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – Senior Leah Mele blasted her first career home run as one of four Pioneer long balls as the LIU Post softball team took one of two from local rival Adelphi University in non-conference action at the LIU Post Softball Complex on Thursday, March 14.
 
LIU Post dropped the opener by a 10-5 final before coming alive in the backend of the doubleheader, downing the Panthers 10-2 in five innings.
 
Mele's long ball was her lone hit of the afternoon, but matched junior Megan Sneeden for the team lead with three runs batted in. Senior Julia Seader hit .750 (4-6) at the plate, blasting a home run during the opener and adding a double with three runs scored. Junior Abbey Fortin broke out at the plate with three hits in five at-bats, scoring four runs and adding a home run and a double as well.
 
In the circle, senior Hannah Olshevski was outstanding to earn her third victory of the year, allowing just two unearned runs and three hits over five innings while striking out two.
 
Game One: LIU Post 5, Adelphi 10
 
Adelphi jumped ahead early, using consecutive singles to put runners in scoring position during the top of the first. Two ground outs helped advance the runners and plate the first run of the game and the Panthers added one more on a wild pitch with two outs. LIU Post went down in order in the bottom half of the inning and Adelphi went back to work during the top of the second to take a commanding lead.
 
A two-out double put two runners in scoring position and a Pioneer fielding error allowed both runners to score. Adelphi added one more run to take a 5-0 lead through two innings. The Pioneers battled back late to make things interesting, scoring three runs on a bases loaded-double by Sneeden during the fourth, but the Panthers worked out of the jam to keep a two-run lead. Adelphi pushed the game open with four more runs during its final two at-bats and Seader launched a two-run home run off the top of the left field fence, though it was not enough to spark a Pioneer rally as the Panthers took the opener by the 10-5 final.
 
Game Two: LIU Post 10, Adelphi 2 (5 Inn.)
 
The offense came alive during game two, beginning with a moonshot home run by Fortin to give LIU Post a 3-0 lead after the first inning. Another LIU Post error proved costly, however, during the top of the second as the Panthers plated two unearned runs to get within one run at 3-2.
 
Sophomore Patricia Dun gave the Pioneers breathing room during the bottom of the third landing a soft line drive in front of the center fielder for two Pioneer runs and set the table for Mele to launch her first home run into the left field bleachers to put the Pioneers ahead 8-2. Sophomore Breanna Klaiber launched the third Pioneer home run of the game over the left-center field fence to put the Pioneers ahead 10-2, earning the run-rule victory in five innings.
 
The Pioneers return to action on Sunday, March 17 when they host the University of New Haven at 12:00 p.m.