LINCOLN, Pa. – The LIU Post baseball team opened East Coast Conference (ECC) play in dominant fashion Saturday afternoon at Lions Field as its offense erupted for 46 runs in a doubleheader sweep of Lincoln University. The Pioneers prevailed 28-3 in game one and 18-2 in game two.
 
LIU Post's 28 runs in game one tied the second-highest single-game run total in program history as it also accomplished the feat in a 28-1 win over Brooklyn College in 1985. The Pioneers' single-game run record came in a 39-18 win over the City College of New York in 1976.
 
The Pioneer offense was outstanding as it hit .459 on the day and combined for 39 hits, 42 RBI, four doubles, two triples and three home runs.
 
Senior Jimmy Mendyk led the way for LIU Post, going 6-for-8 with six runs and five RBI. Redshirt-junior Andy Camilo went 3-for-4 with three runs, five RBI, a double and a home run while freshman Giovanni Ciaccio added four hits, seven RBI and four runs including a home run. Freshman David Franchi contributed four hits, six runs and three RBI, senior Dave Brehm finished with four hits, four RBI and three runs. Senior Michael Manzione hit a grand slam in game one to finish the day with two hits and five RBI and senior Joe Piscitelli had two hits, four runs and one RBI. Senior Anthony Vaglica ended the day with two hits, five RBI and three runs and senior Reynaldo Guillen chipped in three hits and three runs. Sophomore Jahsiah Greene recorded three hits, one RBI and two runs on a successful day for the LIU Post offense.
 
On the mound, senior James Varela continued his dominant season as he struck out 12 in seven innings to earn the win in game one. In game two, junior Noah Lorenzo took the win after striking out a season-high 10 batters in six innings.
 
Game One – LIU Post 28, Lincoln 3
While the day clearly belonged to the Pioneers, it was the Lions who put the first runs on the scoreboard as they took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. It would be Lincoln's only lead of either game as a two-RBI single to left center by Ciaccio in the top of the second saw LIU Post take a 2-1 lead.
 
The Pioneers' offense really got going in the top of the third as LIU Post ended the inning with a 6-1 lead. Lincoln added another run in the top of the fifth but a Ciaccio triple to center field scored Mendyk. Ciaccio then scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth to give the Pioneers a 6-2 lead.
 
The Lion's pitching had no answers for LIU Post as it added a whopping 10 runs in the bottom of the eighth and nine more in the bottom of the ninth, including a grand slam by Manzione after he homered to right field. For their efforts, the Pioneers would open conference play with a 28-3 victory.
 
Game Two – LIU Post 18, Lincoln 2
The Pioneers took an early 2-0 lead after Manzione singled to left field and scored Greene. Camilo then singled to center field and scored Manzione in the top of the first as the Pioneers got off to a strong start.
 
Lincoln made it a 2-1 ball game in the bottom of the first but a two-RBI home run down the left field line from Camilo set the tone for the rest of the game as LIU Post would end the third inning with a 12-1 advantage. Camilo was not the only Pioneer to go yard in the top of the third, as Ciaccio launched a three-RBI home run to right center.
 
LIU Post would add five more runs in the bottom of the fifth and win its second match of the day, 18-2, to earn the sweep. The Pioneers' final run of the day came from senior Ryan Dalton after redshirt-junior Johnny Dehler singled to left center.
 
Up Next
LIU Post resumes its series against Lincoln with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.