LIU Post's Postseason Run Ends With 5-0 Loss in East Super Regional

LIU Post's Postseason Run Ends With 5-0 Loss in East Super Regional

Manchester, N.H. – The LIU Post softball team saw its 2018 campaign come to a close with a 5-0 defeat in the East Super Regional against host Saint Anselm College at the South Athletic Fields, May 18.
 
The Green and Gold close out the season with a 38-19 overall record, reaching the NCAA Division II Tournament for the 18th time under the leadership of head coach Jamie Apicella.
 
After both offenses went down in order in the first inning, the Hawks paired two singles but did not advance past second base and the Pioneers answered with the game's first scoring opportunity when freshman Breanna Klaiber laced a double to left-center field to lead off the bottom of the second. Despite advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt, Klaiber was unable to score as Hawks pitcher Morgan Perry worked out of the threat with a strikeout and a groundout.
 
St. Anselm took control in the top of the third inning, scoring four runs on six hits, sending 10 batters to the plate in the process. Shannon McLaughlin led off the frame with a double and advanced to third on a single by Amanda Bickford in the next at-bat. A third consecutive single plated the game's first run, and the Hawks continued to roll with a two-run single to center field two batters later to take a 3-0 lead.
 
Despite a pitching change, the Hawks kept rolling with a line drive over junior Allie Laird's head in left field to cap off the four-run stanza, leading 4-0 after three innings. St. Anselm tacked on an insurance run in the top of the sixth in what proved to be the final run of the contest.
 
Perry retired the next seven LIU Post batters before junior Julia Seader roped a double to right-center field, but was stranded at third base as the Hawks avoided trouble once again in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman Patricia Dun singled in the seventh and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but a diving grab down the left field line by Maggie Murphy ended the contest, giving the Hawks a berth in the Division II World Series next week in Salem, Va.
 
Seader, Klaiber, and Dun combined for the only three hits for LIU Post. In the circle, sophomore Katie Humhej suffered the loss, allowing four runs in the start, while junior Hannah Olshevski turned in five quality innings in relief, allowing one run on six hits.

Provided by the LIU Post Sports Information Department.