BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The Pioneers jumped ahead early and threatened late but East Stroudsburg University had the upper hand as the LIU Post baseball team came up short in non-conference action, 7-6, April 11.
 
 The Green and Gold struggled to deliver a hit when opportunities arose, stranding 11 runners on base including five runners over the final four innings.
 
After jumping ahead in the bottom of the first on a RBI-single by senior Joe Spitaleri, the Pioneers added to their lead with a two-run home run off the bat of sophomore Zach Fritz and an RBI-groundout in the fifth by junior Joe Piscitelli.
 
Sophomore Mike Stiles delivered a solid outing on the mound, recording a career-high 5.1 innings pitched with five strikeouts, allowing just three runs on the afternoon. The performance was spoiled by a five-run sixth inning by the Warriors, however, as East Stroudsburg took a 5-4 lead after six innings. The visitors added another two runs in the seventh inning and looked to be in total control heading into the bottom of the eighth.
 
LIU Post loaded the bases with no outs and senior Ramger Iglesias worked a bases-loaded walk to bring the Pioneers within two runs. Spitaleri made it a one-run game with a sacrifice fly for the first out of the inning, but Mike Pepio worked out of a bases-loaded jam by inducing a two-out groundout to keep the lead intact.
 
In the ninth, the Pioneers put the leadoff batter on base after a fielding error by the Warriors, but Pepio picked off the runner at first to end all momentum, as East Stroudsburg held on for the one-run win.
 
The Pioneers have the week off from East Coast Conference action, but will still play a three-game series this weekend against Southern Connecticut State University, with game one set to take place in New Haven, Conn. on Friday, April 13 at 3:30 p.m.