Final: LIU Post 3, Assumption 1
WP: Varela
S: LoeschornHere’s Varela on the win pic.twitter.com/igKcB5YEIW
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 16, 2019
Game 1
Great pitchers rise to the occasion. Over the past year, James Varela has proven his value to LIU Post time-and-time again. Today was no different, as the senior RHP was outstanding in the Pioneers’ 3-1 victory over Assumption. Over 8 IP, he allowed just 5 hits, 1 BB with 14 strikeouts to improve to 2-2 on the season. Freshman Josh Loeschorn came in and fired a 1-2-3 ninth inning with two strikeouts for his second save of the season.
It appeared the Pioneers would have an easy afternoon victory when they got out to quick 2-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by Dave Brehm and a wild pitch that scored Chris Wasson.
Varela’s counterpart, Cole Chudoba, was able to settle in, though, and put together a strong outing. He wound up firing six innings, allowing three ER.
Assumption got on the board in the third inning on a bloop double down the right field line by Kevin Quinliven, and the throw to second base got away which allowed a run to score and cut the lead to 2-1. They threatened to put more on the board, as there was now 2nd & 3rd with no outs, but Varela used a strikeout, a comebacker and a ground out to second to escape further damage.
The fourth through sixth innings did not feature much action as Varela allowed only a hit by pitch and single during that duration. The seventh inning featured some heavy lifting. A single and an E6 put runners on 2nd & 3rd with two outs, but he induced an infield pop out to end the threat.
The Pioneers added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh on a double steal in which David Franchi stole home.
The eighth inning featured more of the same, when the first two batters reached via single but he was able to bear down and strike out the next two batters. A rare obstruction called moved the runner to third base, but a ground out to first base ended the jam.
Loeschorn came on in the ninth firing heat to slam the door shut on the victory.
Game 2
The back end of the DH featured much less drama. Southpaw Noah Lorenzo was strong from start-to-finish. He went the full seven innings, allowing just four hits and a walk to go along with three strikeouts to improve his record to 2-3 on the season. He is the perfect complement to a hard-throwing RHP in game one of the double header due to his contrasting style and command of his changeup and two-seam fastball.
The offense scored three runs in the first inning on two wild pitches and an RBI single by Zach Fritz.
They broke it open with three more in the sixth on an RBI double by Mike Manzione, a wild pitch and an E5.
Chris Wasson, Joe Piscitelli and Fritz all notched multi-hit games.
The Pioneers improve to 9-6 on the season and will be back in action tomorrow in another DH against Assumption.
