WEST HAVEN, Conn. -- Sophomore third baseman Maria Palmeri delivered a walk-off bases-loaded RBI single up the middle Saturday to give top-seeded LIU Post a 3-2 win against Southern New Hampshire in an eight-inning NCAA East Regional contest.
For the second consecutive day, the game was scoreless until the sixth inning as Pioneer starter Liz Weber and Penmen hurler Ali Maloof battled it out in the circle.
After retiring the first two batters of the frame, Weber surrendered a single up the middle, followed by a homer to left by first baseman Cara Daly, to give the Penmen a 2-0 advantage.
The green and gold were not going down without a fight as sophomore designated player Paige Swantek led off the bottom of the seventh with a single up the middle. Freshman first baseman Kayla McCoy then earned a walk, putting Pioneers on first and second with no outs. The very next batter, Palmeri singled to Maloof, but the pitcher overthrew first, allowing both runners to score and Palmeri to advance all the way to third. Maloof redeemed herself by retiring the next three to face her in order, which sent the game into extra innings.
With two outs in the eighth and a runner on first, left fielder Holly Eicher singled to right field and pinch runner Skyler Shugrue made her way all the way to third. That's where SNHU's threat ended, though, as Weber came away with a huge strikeout of Daly to end the frame.
In the bottom half, senior outfielder Alexis Gonzalez singled up the middle to get things rolling. Senior shortstop Nicole Hagenah subsequently laid down a sacrifice bunt that was mishandled, allowing Gonzalez and Hagenah to advance to third and second, respectively.
After Maloof recorded the next two outs and McCoy walked to load the bases, Palmeri came to bat and singled up the middle to send Hagenah home for the win.
