NEW HAVEN, Conn. – LIU Post hit .500 as a team, plating 17 runs during a doubleheader sweep of Southern Connecticut State University in non-conference play at Pelz Field on Tuesday, March 19.
 
Junior Allie Laird continued to stay hot for the Pioneers, leading the Green and Gold with six hits in seven at-bats, scoring four runs and driving in another three. Sophomore Hanna Finkelstein added five RBI during a 4-for-6 effort, while freshman Jayna Rios hit her first career home run as part of a 3-for-5 day at the plate. Junior Megan Sneeden also added three hits and one home run. Sophomore Breanna Klaiber compiled four hits on the day and junior Abbey Fortin added three hits. All nine Pioneer hitters recorded at least one hit on the day and eight of nine scored at least once.
 
In the circle senior Hannah Olshevski allowed two runs over five innings to earn the win during game two, while junior Katie Humhej also allowed two runs during seven innings of work to earn the win during the opener.
 
Game One: LIU Post 6, Southern Conn. St. 2
 
The Pioneers got out to an early lead when Klaiber singled to left field to bring home Laird during the top of the first inning. Southern Connecticut State answered during the bottom of the frame to make it 1-1 after the first. The back-and-forth action continued as the two sides entered the fifth inning tied 2-2.
 
The Pioneers pushed three runs across during the fifth when Klaiber got the rally started with an RBI-double down the right field line. LIU Post plated two more runs on a sacrifice fly coupled with a throwing error to take a 5-2 lead after five innings. Rios sent a solo home run to left center field during the sixth inning as an insurance run and Humhej retired the final 12 batters she faced to lead the Green and Gold to the win.
 
Game Two: LIU Post 11, Southern Conn. St. 2 (5 Inn.)
 
A leadoff walk and two stolen bases by Laird set up an RBI-single by Fortin to give LIU Post a 1-0 lead during the top of the first for the second straight game. Laird delivered her first RBI of the day during the third inning, driving home senior Leah Mele with a single and Klaiber drove home two more runs later in the inning to put LIU Post ahead, 4-0. Finkelstein delivered an RBI-single and Sneeden blasted a home run to left field to cap off a six-run frame for the Pioneers who led 7-0 through three innings.
 
The Owls put two runs on the board in the third inning, but Laird doubled down the left field line to score two runs and Finkelstein drove in two more with a single to left field later in the inning to give the Pioneers an 11-2 lead after four innings and the Pioneers held on for the run-rule victory.
 
The Pioneers return to Brookville on Thursday, March 21 when they host Pace University at 1:30 p.m.