Brookville, N.Y. – The LIU Post softball team came back in game two to capture their first East Coast Conference title since 2014, defeating No. 3 seed Molloy College 4-1 at the LIU Post Softball Complex May 5.
 
Sophomore Abbey Fortin was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, finishing 3-for-4 at the plate with a solo home run and two runs scored. Freshman Breanna Klaiber added two runs batted to lead the Pioneers to the title. Junior Hannah Olshevski went the distance in the circle in the decisive game, allowing just one run on four hits.
 
The Pioneers broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning when Fortin launched her second home run of the day into the bleachers in left field to give LIU Post a 1-0 lead. The Green and Gold tacked on one more run in the frame when sophomore Megan Sneeden singled home senior Jaclyn Hahn to make it 2-0.
 
An inning later, the Pioneers doubled their advantage thanks to a one-out double by Klaiber into the right-center field gap to drive in two runs. The Lions got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, scoring their only run of the day on a two-out single, but Olshevski stranded the bases loaded to end the inning.  The junior pitcher worked out of another bases-loaded jam in the sixth and retired the side in order to end the contest, giving the Pioneers the conference crown.
 
The teams got to the decisive game seven of the tournament after Molloy handed LIU Post a 3-1 setback in game one of Championship Saturday. Fortin launched a solo home run as just one of two Pioneer hits in the contest.
 
With the conference championship, the Pioneers earn the ECC automatic-bid into the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament next weekend. The Green and Gold will learn its seeding and opening-round opponent on Monday, May 7 at 10:00 a.m. as the field is announced live on www.ncaa.com.

Provided by the LIU Post Sports Information Department.