Manchester, N.H. - The No. 4 seed LIU Post baseball team had its 2017 campaign come to a close Sunday in an 8-7 extra-inning loss to fifth-seeded Felician University in an elimination game at the 2017 NCAA Division II East Region Championship at Penmen Field.
Trailing 3-0 at the midway point of the contest, the Pioneers (32-20) rallied with the bases loaded to push across three runs in the fifth, tying the score.
Senior outfielder Kenny Daley (Glenwood Landing, N.Y.) put the green and gold on the board with a one-out sacrifice fly, while sophomore designated hitter Anthony Vaglica (Franklin Square, N.Y.) smacked a game-tying two-RBI single through the left side.
One inning later, the Pioneers went in front, after a well-executed double steal and subsequent throwing error plated senior catcher Thomas Asbaty (Randolph, N.J.) for the go-ahead run.
Felician (35-14) eventually re-claimed its three-run advantage in the seventh on a Brennan Price (Middlesex, N.J.) homer, but LIU Post fought back again.
In the seventh, Vaglica hit a sacrifice fly to deep left, which scored junior shortstop Joe Spitaleri (Levittown, N.Y.) to pull the Pioneers within a pair of runs at 7-5.
Then, in the eighth, sophomore outfielder Dave Brehm (Bohemia, N.Y.) lined an RBI triple into the right-center field gap, and sophomore second baseman Sal Geraci (Bayport, N.Y.) followed with an RBI single to even the score at 7-all.
However, the Golden Falcons broke the tie in extra innings and did not relinquish the lead. Price drilled an RBI single up the middle in the 11th to knock in Ralph Caccavale (Massapequa, N.Y.) for the game-winning run.
The Pioneers nearly walked off in their final turn at-bat though. After junior outfielder Rob Andreoli (Wantagh, N.Y.) drew a one-out walk, Vaglica hit the first pitch he saw to left that was caught right in front of the fence.
Senior pitcher Dan Jagiello (West Islip, N.Y.) was tagged with the loss in the decision. He allowed one run and one hit and fanned two in 1.1 innings of work. Freshman pitcher Kurt Rissland (Franklin Square, N.Y.) made the start and threw 5.1 innings of seven-hit, three-run, three-walk, two-strikeout ball.
Provided by the LIU Post Sports Information Department.
