Easton, Mass.  — Following an 11-8 win over Stonehill in game two of Friday's double-header, LIU baseball has cemented its place as NEC regular season champions.
 
With a 24-6 conference record this season, LIU has tied its program-record for most NEC wins. This is the first time since 2022 – and the third time in program history – that the Sharks have won the regular season championship and will head into next week's NEC Tournament as the top seed.
 
As for Friday afternoon's victory, the Sharks were paced by a 3-for-6 effort with three runs scored from Ryan Rivera. The junior's .355 batting average on the campaign not only leads LIU, but ranks fourth best in all of the NEC. Max Samson (2-for-4) and Joseph Durso (2-for-3) also drove in three runs apiece to propel the offense. Jack Power went 1-for-4 with his team-leading fifteenth home run of the year – good for the second-best mark in the NEC.
 
Starting pitcher Nicholas Finarelli struck out seven in six innings, Cole Yeager earned the win in relief, and Torin Kassebaum recorded the game's final five outs to earn his first save of the season and help LIU put the final touches on the victory.
 
The Sharks will open up the NEC Tournament on Thursday May 22, set to play at 12 p.m.