by Vinny Messana
It was not the type of home opener that the LIU Post Pioneers had in mind. With the reigning ECC Pitcher of the Week, Jake DeCarli, on the hill, the Pioneers were defeated 7-2 by American International College.
DeCarli struggled out of the gate, allowing two first inning runs and another in the third and fourth innings. He went 4.0 IP, allowed seven hits, four runs (three ER) with three strikeouts.
Photo Credit: Vinny Messana
“I think he’s got to go back to what he was doing last year,” said Head Coach Mike Gaffney. “Where he was pitching instead of trying to overpower, because he’s not that guy–he’s not an overpowering guy. He’s gonna start it down the middle and let it dance,” he added.
The bright spot was redshirt freshman Robert Paccione coming in and throwing four shutout innings of relief before allowing two ER in the ninth inning.
Gaffney was very pleased with what he saw from the young hurler.
“He’s got some velocity, he’s got some toughness, once he throws his breaking ball for a strike more, he’s going to be, probably, a top guy in this conference,” he said. “The sky’s the limit for him,” he added.
The offense got off to a hot start, scoring two runs in the first inning to tie up the game. They put together a nice two-out rally which was kick started with a walk to Thomas Asbaty. After a stolen base, Kyle Fagan drove him in with an RBI single to center field–off the glove of a diving shortstop.Dave Brehm followed with a single between shortstop and third to set the stage for an RBI single to center by Lou Doria.
Unfortunately, the bats went cold after that.
Starter Nick Kennedy settled in and fired eight innings, scattering six hits and allowing just those two runs with three strikeouts.
“He did a great job of keeping us off balance,” said Gaffney. “He wasn’t around the plate enough for our guys to get comfortable. He was able to work corners, he was effectively wild. We’ve been struggling with lefties with below-average velocities that know how to pitch.
We had a young team out there today, they’re learning and we have to be patient with them. But also, after scoring two runs in the first inning, we’ve got to know how to keep the pedals down and step on their throats and we didn’t do that,” he added.
Brehm had two hits for the Pioneers. He also gunned down a runner attempting to advance an extra base on a single.
The Pioneers fall to 6-8 on the season. They will be back in action on Thursday when they host Bloomfield.
