BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – Playing at the LIU Post Baseball Field for the first time in 2019, the LIU Post Baseball team limited Assumption College to just two runs throughout the doubleheader as the Pioneers swept the Greyhounds Saturday afternoon. LIU Post prevailed 3-1 in the first game and 8-1 in the second.
 
The Pioneers had a superb day on the mound and were led by senior James Varela. In game one he pitched eight innings and struck out  a career-high 14 while limiting the Greyhounds to just one unearned run. Freshman Joshua Loeschorn earned the save, striking out two in one inning. Junior Noah Lorenzo went the distance in the second game, striking out three and only allowing one run and four hits.
 
Junior Zach Fritz went 4-for-7 with three doubles and an RBI while senior Michael Manzione also had an impressive day as he went 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and a run. Sophomore Christopher Wasson added three hits and two runs, senior Dave Brehm contributed three hits, a run, an RBI and two stolen bases while senior Joe Piscitelli finished with two hits, two runs and an RBI.
 
Game One – LIU Post 3, Assumption 1
Varela proved too much for the Greyhounds too handle in game one, striking out two batters in the top of the first.  The Pioneers got on the scoreboard early after freshman Giovanni Ciaccio scored thanks to a Brehm single to right field. Wasson then scored on a wild pitch, giving LIU Post an early 2-0 lead.
 
Varela fanned two batters in the top of the second and the Greyhounds would score their only run in the top of the third. Varela added three more strikeouts in the top of the fourth and fifth and another two in the top of the sixth and seventh.
 
Brehm stole home in the bottom of the seventh to give LIU Post a 3-1 lead and Varela and Loeschorn would strike out two batters each as the Pioneers held on for the victory in their home-opener.
 
Game Two – LIU Post 8, Assumption 1
The Pioneers got off to another strong start in game two, taking a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Wasson and Piscitelli scored on a wild pitches and Brehm scored after a single to left field by Fritz.
 
LIU Post further added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth after Manzione doubled to left center, scoring Piscitelli. Brehm scored on a wild pitch and Manzione scored after a fielding error at third base to give LIU Post a 6-1 lead.
 
Senior Sal Geraci scored after Piscitelli singled up the middle and senior Ryan Dalton scored after Brehm grounded into a double play at short stop to give the Pioneers an 8-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth, which would be the game's final score.
 
Up Next
LIU Post returns to the LIU Post Baseball Field at noon for another doubleheader against Assumption (8-6).