TIGERVILLE S.C. – A middle-inning comeback for Post University Baseball was quickly squashed by North Greenville University, the second nationally-ranked team in Division II, in the final game of a three-game set down in South Carolina on Saturday afternoon. Using 22 runs between the sixth and eighth innings, the Crusaders pulled away, 27-10, as the Eagles dropped their fifth straight game.
THE BASICS
Post University 10, #2 North Greenville University 27
Post University (1-5)
#2 North Greenville University (9-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
For only the second time this season, the Eagles got on the scoreboard first after getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning. Graduate starting pitcher Joe Christiana worked his way out of a runners on first and second situation with one out by getting senior third baseman Pat Monteith to strike out and then following a walk to load the bases, struck out junior second baseman Bryce Roddey to get out of the inning. A double with one out in the second inning by freshman first baseman Dario Sosa set up Post with a chance to take the lead and they would do so after Sosa advanced to third on a ground out by senior shortstop Evan Cornwell when senior catcher Jax Cash allowed a passed ball.
After Christiana escaped trouble again in the second, it would eventually catch up to him as he would allow three straight singles to start the third inning and nearly get out of it again. After getting Cash to strike out and an infield fly, Christiana gave up a grand slam to freshman outfield Thomas Powell, flipping the game back in favor of the Crusaders, 4-1, after three.
Sophomore utility player Carter Dierdorf extended North Greenville's lead to four runs, 5-1, with an RBI single in the fourth inning before the Eagles mounted a comeback over the next few innings. Graduate outfielder DJ Caron started things off in the fifth with a two-run home run and then in the next inning, Post would tie the game up at five all with an RBI single by junior infielder Hunter Keller and junior first baseman Chris Corchado's hit-by-pitch.
But over the next three innings, the Crusaders would showcase their offensive firepower to the tune of 22 runs which ultimately saw 11 players knock in a run, 10 players record at least one hit, and two players have four-hit games. Leading the way for North Greenville was Powell with a 4-for-5 day with seven runs batted in and in a pinch-hit capacity sophomore first baseman Kyler Odom was 2-for-2 with four RBIs.
16 combined pitchers made their way to the mound with eight coming from each team in a game that saw 24 combined walks to just 17 combined strikeouts along with eight hit batters, and five wild pitches.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Michael Pavelchak extended his on-base streak to 15 straight games, going 2-for-3 with two walks and a run scored
- DJ Caron continued his red-hot start going 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, two walks, and two runs scored
- This is the first game this season that Post University has lost when scoring first, they are now 1-1 when recording the first run of the game and 0-4 when allowing the first run
- The 27 runs allowed by Post University is the most given up in program history, the previous high was 25 runs back on March 11th, 2006 against UMass Lowell
WHO'S NEXT
Post University prepares for the third trip of the spring, heading to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina next weekend for five games. The Eagles will start out on Thursday evening at 5:30 PM against Franklin Pierce University. The two teams played each other four times last spring in Morehead City, North Carolina with the Ravens taking three out of four while Post took the final one, 6-2.
