NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Apr. 23, 2017) - The LIU Post baseball team took one of two games from Southern Connecticut State University in a non-conference doubleheader Sunday in New Haven.

The Pioneers (20-16) won a hard-fought 9-7 decision in the opener, but fell to the Owls (21-10) in the nightcap, 2-0.

Game #1: LIU Post 9, Southern Connecticut 7
Tied 4-4 in the opener, the Pioneers exploded for five runs in the top of the fourth to grab a commanding 9-4 advantage.

Junior outfielder Rob Andreoli (North Wantagh, N.Y.) kept his hot streak going with a three-RBI bases-clearing double. Junior shortstop Joe Spitaleri (Levittown, N.Y.) and sophomore second baseman Sal Geraci (Bayport, N.Y.) added consecutive RBI singles.

Though the Owls eventually pulled within a pair of runs at 9-7, the visitors held on for the two-run victory.

Sophomore pitcher Nick Schoen (Hicksville, N.Y.) earned the win in the decision, hurling 1.1 innings of one-hit, two-run, three-walk ball in relief. Senior pitcher Dan Jagiello (West Islip, N.Y.) locked down his eighth save of the year, after striking out the side in the ninth.

Andreoli went 2-for-4 with four RBIs in the game. Spitaleri batted 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Geraci contributed a 1-for-2 day with two runs scored and two walks.

Game #2: LIU Post 0, Southern Connecticut 2
In the nightcap, the Pioneers mustered just two hits against red-shirt senior pitcher Cole Bryant (Newington, Conn.), who struck out eight in seven innings of work.

The Owls broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth, after RBI singles by Kyle Hart (North Branford, Conn.) and Connor Redahan (Greenwich, Conn.).

The green and gold were retired in order in six of the seven frames. In the top of the second, LIU Post strung together back-to-back hits, but Bryant fanned a pair of batters and induced a groundout to end the threat.

Freshman pitcher Kurt Rissland (Franklin Square, N.Y.) took the loss in the decision, allowing three hits, two runs and two walks and striking out five in five innings of work.

Head Coach Mike Gaffney and the Pioneers return to action Friday (Apr. 28), when they travel to Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. to battle East Coast Conference rival Mercy College at 3:30 p.m.