BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – (March 27, 2011) – The C.W. Post Pioneers baseball team needed extra innings in both ends of a double-header sweep from East Coast Conference rival Dowling College on Sunday afternoon. Both games were won by walk-off hit-by-pitch at bats for the Pioneer victories - 2-1 in game one and 3-2 in game two.

With the victories, the Pioneers even out their conference record at 2-2, while improving their overall record to 3-18. Dowling fallsto 6-11 overall and 2-2 in the ECC.

In the first contest, Pioneer starter Paul Bischoff (Levittown, N.Y.) danced in and out of trouble in the first inning allowing three base hits, but held the pesky Golden Lions' offense scoreless on the board. Bischoff would settle down, allowing just one hit over the next four innings over the next five innings.

During the sixth inning, each team scratched out their first runs of the game. First in the top of the frame for the Golden Lions, Andrew Abreu reached with a leadoff single. He was then moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt and later singled in by junior Jason Schlittenhardt.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Pioneers answered back when freshman shortstop Tom Tolan (Malverne, N.Y.) reached with a bunt single and moved to second on a throwing error by Dowling. He then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Three batters later sophomore catcher Anthony Corona (Carmel, N.Y.) laced a single down the left field line to drive in Tolan and tie the game at one.

The game saw no scoring changes through seven regulation innings and continued into the bottom of the 10th inning, where once again Tolan started off the frame with a base hit and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Junior Nick Compito (Jericho, N.Y.) came in to pinch hit and singled to left center field to move Tolan to third. Dowling intentionally walked Corona to load the bases and face senior first baseman Dan Mende (Monroe, N.Y.), who came into the game during the seventh inning as a defensive replacement. Mende was struck by the pitch, forcing in Tolan in from third for the game-winning run.

Senior Marshall Kapson (Commack, N.Y.) picked up the victory in relief of Bischoff, who allowed just the one run over nine innings of work while striking out one batter.

In game two, C.W. Post jumped out to an early lead in the first inning when Corona singled and advanced to second on an error with two outs. Two batters later, freshman first-baseman Phil Loprete (Bellerose, N.Y.) knocked a base hit to centerfield to score Corona and give the Pioneers the early 1-0 edge.

Starting on the mound for the Pioneers was Kevin Chenicek (Levittown, N.Y.), who mowed down the Golden Lions early and retired the first eight batters he faced. He did not face any danger from the opposition until the fourth inning, when he allowed a leadoff single, followed by a walk to put the first two runners on. The next two Dowling hitters, Eddie Squeri and Joe Candela, each drove the ball deep enough for a pair of sacrifice flies to tie the score at one apiece.

During the bottom of the fourth, the Pioneers loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk. The next batter was freshman infielder Rich Maccarone (Glen Cove, N.Y.), who was then hit by the pitch to score the Pioneers' second run of the contest.

In the top half of the seventh, James Stone (Massapequa, N.Y.) came on in relief of Chenicek, who surrendered a lead-off single. After getting the first two batters out, a costly throwing error by the Pioneers allowed the tying run to cross the plate and force the game into extra frames.

In the bottom of the ninth, right fielder #P.J. Jennings# (Morris Plains, N.J.) led off for C.W. Post with a walk, which was followed by a botched bunt to leave Jennings on first with one out. Maccarone followed up with a single, and Tolan reached on a fielder's choice, bringing up junior Matt Simone (West Islip, N.Y.) with the bases loaded and one out. Simone was struck by a pitch, giving the Pioneers their second walk off hit-by-pitch victory of the day.

The winning pitcher was Connor McCarthy (Westbury, N.Y.) who improves to 1-0 on the season. Chenicek pitched six innings of four-hit ball while allowing two runs and striking out three. Stone pitched two innings of no-hit ball while striking out one. 

The Pioneers return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Bridgeport in East Coast Conference action at 3 p.m. The Pioneers will return home three days later on April 1, and look to extend their home winning streak to four games.