FLUSHING, N.Y. -- On a day when Post University Baseball had one of their best pitching performances of the young season, it was the bats that needed almost all nine innings to finally come around and produce offense for the Eagles. Trailing just 1-0 against Franklin Pierce University, who entered the day ranked sixth in the NCBWA, heading into the ninth inning, the Eagles pulled even before graduate outfielder DJ Caron's two-run double in the 11th completed the comeback and gave Post their second straight win, 3-1. 

THE BASICS

Post University 3, Franklin Pierce University 1 (11 Innings)

Post University (5-7)

Franklin Pierce University (2-5)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Senior starting pitcher Matt Semon had arguably his best start of the season thus far after going seven innings in which he allowed just one run on five hits while striking out nine and walking only two batters. Semon threw 112 pitches in his outing, a season-high for the right-hander, and the nine strikeouts were also his most of the year. This was the Valley Cottage, New York native's second straight start against Franklin Pierce and he has now thrown 13 innings against the Ravens while allowing four total runs on 10 hits with 14 strikeouts, seven walks, and just three extra-base hits.

All three of those extra-base hits came in today's game and back-to-back extra-base hits in the form of doubles would lead to the only run of the afternoon for the Ravens against Post University pitching. Sophomore first baseman Nolan DeAndrade and junior infielder Kiobel Lugo led off the fourth with back-to-back doubles off of Semon which gave Franklin Pierce their one-run lead that held for eight innings. 

It was a group effort for the Ravens' pitching staff who no hit Post for 5 2/3 innings before junior catcher Jimmy Brennan's two-out single off of right-handed reliever Niklas Pavia. Until the ninth, the Eagle offense had just three hits when freshman pinch hitter Brain Zweigbaum's single to lead off the inning kicked off the rally. After pinch runner Joshua Chen was sacrificed over to second by junior infielder John Onofrio, senior outfielder Michael Pavelchak's single scored him to send the game to extra innings tied at one. 

With two runners on and two outs in the eleventh inning, Caron would be the hero after Post got Pavelchak on via walk and senior outfielder Danny Gill with a single to set up the outfielder for his two-run double that would ultimately hold up as the game-winning hit. After relieving Semon following his seven innings, junior right-hander Brennan Holligan was lights out for the Eagles for the final four innings where he allowed no runs on two hits with six strikeouts and two walks to seal the deal on the 3-1 victory in game one of four this weekend for Post. 
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Michael Pavelchak has now gotten on base in 21 straight games -- Pavelchak was 1-for-2 with a run scored and four walks 
• After only having one extra inning game last season, a 2-1 win against Wilmington University in 10 innings, Post University has now won both extra innings games they have played in this season -- The Eagles are now 3-0 since the start of the 2023 season in games that go to extra innings 
• As a pitching staff, Post University had 15 strikeouts between Matt Semon and Brennan Holligan compared to only four walks -- The 15 strikeouts is the most in a game for Post pitching since February 10th, 2023 against Saint Anselm when the Eagles had 16 strikeouts 
• This is only the second win this season for Post University when allowing the game's first run (2-6) -- Post is 3-1 record when scoring first

WHO'S NEXT
Post University plays Franklin Pierce University, who sits sixth in the East Region rankings for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Poll this week, one final time tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 PM on the campus of Queens College. The Eagles have now won three in a row against the Ravens after dropping four in a row to them before that from 2022 until 2023.