Garden City, N.Y. – Sophomore Abbey Fortin launched two home runs and classmate Katie Humhej spun her eighth shutout of the season in the circle as the No. 4 seed LIU Post softball team defeated No. 1 seed Adelphi University, 8-0 at the Janet L. Ficke Softball Field May 12.
 
With the win, the Pioneers advance to next week's super regional series with No. 2 seed St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. The series will be a best-of-three matchup with the two schools to determine the East Region's qualifier for the Division II College World Series.
 
Fortin started her day with a base hit in the first inning and followed it up with a grand slam in the second inning to blow the game open, giving the Pioneers a 5-0 advantage. The Canadian closed out the day with a solo shot to deep left-center field to finish 3-for-4 on the day with two homers and five runs batted in. Senior Gianna Gatto added two hits, including a rope to the left field wall to give the Pioneers its eighth and final run to walk-off in the sixth inning.
 
Humhej took care of the rest in the circle, allowing just two hits on the day, recording 10 ground ball outs. The sophomore retired the side in order in four of her six innings and allowed just one runner to reach second base.
 
The Pioneers loaded the bases behind Fortin's single and two walks in the first inning and took the early lead when junior Leah Mele grounded out to third base. The same story repeated in the second inning, as LIU Post loaded the bases with no outs, setting the stage for Fortin's grand slam to increase the lead to 5-0.
 
 Following a scoreless third inning, the Green and Gold plated another run in the fourth but stranded two runners in scoring position to end the threat. Fortin helped the Pioneers end the contest early with a lead-off home run in the sixth, and the Pioneers eventually loaded the bases before Gatto's shot ended the contest and lifted LIU Post into the Super Regional.
 
LIU Post opens next week's series against St. Anselm on Thursday, May 17 with a time to be determined. The two squads will play one game on Thursday and will play game two and game three if necessary on Friday.

Provided by the LIU Post Sports Information Department.