LIU Post Downs No. 1 Seed Saint Anselm in Super Regional Opener

LIU Post Downs No. 1 Seed Saint Anselm in Super Regional Opener

Manchester, N.H. - The second-seeded LIU Post softball team opened the NCAA Division II East Super Regional with a 5-1 victory against top-seeded Saint Anselm College at the South Athletic Fields.
 
With the win, LIU Post needs just one victory during the elimination series tomorrow afternoon to advance to the NCAA Division II College World Series for the first time since the 2014 season. In addition, the Green and Gold match the program record for wins with 50, equaling the mark set in 2014. For the Hawks, the loss was just their second at the South Athletic Fields this season as they drop to 40-9 on the year.
 
Senior Hannah Olshevski was masterful in the circle, scattering six hits while striking out three batters. Her only hiccup came during the second inning when she allowed two doubles for the lone Hawk run of the afternoon.
 
Senior Ashley Melendez continued her hot hitting during the NCAA Championship, finishing 2-for-3 with a two-run home run. Sophomore Hanna Finkelstein added two hits of her own with one RBI, and classmate Breanna Klaiber belted a solo home run. For Klaiber, the long ball snapped a 35-game homerless streak.
 
Saint Anselm jumped ahead early with one run during the second inning before the Pioneers got to Morgan Perry, the Division II Conference Commissioners Association Pitcher of the Year. Klaiber led off the inning with a solo home run to center field to tie the score. Following a walk and a sacrifice bunt, Melendez sent the second home run of the inning over the center field fence to give LIU Post a 3-1 lead at the midway point.
 
The Green and Gold tacked on two more runs during the sixth inning when Finkelstein ripped a single through the right side and Klaiber drew a bases-loaded walk to take a four-run lead into the final inning. Olshevski took care of the rest, retiring the side in order and closing out the game with a strikeout for her 25th victory of the season.
 
Game two of the best-of-three series is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. at the South Athletic Fields.

Release provided by the LIU Post Sports Information Department.