FLUSHING, N.Y. (Apr. 22, 2016) - On Friday, the LIU Post baseball team defeated Queens College, 8-5, in the opening contest of a four-game East Coast Conference series.

The Pioneers (14-19, 6-11 ECC) got off to a quick start, scoring a pair in the opening frame.

With a runner on third, junior center fielder Kenny Daley (Glenwood Landing, N.Y.) drove in a run, making it 1-0. One batter later, sophomore first baseman Lou Doria (Wantagh, N.Y.) doubled home Daley, giving the green and gold a 2-0 lead.

The Knights (16-19, 7-10 ECC) responded with a run in the bottom of the inning and added three in the bottom of the second to go in front 4-2.

The Pioneers got another RBI from Doria in the third, when the lefty drove in junior catcher Thomas Asbaty (Randolph, N.J.), making it 4-3.

Queens added a run in the bottom half of the inning, but the Pioneers would respond.

In the fourth, freshman third baseman Jimmy Mendyk (Massapequa, N.Y.) tripled to right, driving in a run. Sophomore left fielder James Cohan (Syosset, N.Y.) followed with an RBI groundout, tying the game at 5-all.

The next inning, the Pioneers took advantage of some sloppy defense. Doria reached on an error that allowed junior designated hitter Kyle Fagan (Wantagh, N.Y.) to score. Later, senior second baseman Matt Bowers (Staten Island, N.Y.) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, before Mendyk singled to center, scoring Doria to make it 8-5.

That would be all junior starter Jake DeCarli (Higganum, Conn.) would need, as the righty scattered 10 hits and allowed five runs (three earned) in a complete-game effort. DeCarli walked two and struck out four to earn the win.

Mendyk finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Doria went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs driven in to power the offense.

The Pioneers and Knights resume their four-game set with a doubleheader at the LIU Post Baseball Field in Brookville on Saturday (Apr. 23). First pitch for the opener is set for noon.