WATERBURY, Conn. – An extra inning thriller turned into a six-inning explosion of offense for Post University Softball as the Eagles snapped a five-game losing streak in game two of their doubleheader against AIC on Friday afternoon at LaMoy Field. After falling 5-3 in eight innings, Post came back in game two with a 12-run performance en route to a six-inning mercy rule over the Yellow Jackets in game two, 12-4.
THE BASICS
Post University 3, American International College 5 (8 Innings)
Post University 12, American International College 4 (6 Innings)
Post University (3-15)
American International College (6-6)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Post University 3, American International College 5 (8 Innings)
It would be the Eagles getting on the scoreboard first as a leadoff walk to graduate outfielder Samantha Riccardulli led to senior infielder Lily Tomasiello's RBI single off of senior pitcher Riley Sullivan that gave Post a 1-0 lead. AIC would answer back with two in the third inning starting with getting back-to-back singles off of freshman left-hander Devin Barnett. Senior outfielder Abigail Wells would hit a sacrifice fly and junior utility Destiny McGrath reached base via error by senior infielder Caitlin DeAngelis allowing the Yellow Jackets to claim the lead.
With the bases loaded and only one out in the bottom of that frame, Post would be unable to plate the tying run, but a double steal in the fourth by Riccardulli and senior outfielder Carli Perruso, got the Eagles the run they needed to make it a new ballgame. In the fifth, AIC took the lead back again after back-to-back one-out singles by Wells and McGrath, leading to a sacrifice fly by junior second baseman Taylor Murphy.
Forcing the game to extra innings, a two-out RBI infield single by Riccardulli in the sixth would send the game into an eighth inning that would ultimately decide the game. With the international rule putting a runner on second to start the inning, freshman catcher Brooklyn Cividanes hit a two-run home run that gave the Yellow Jackets the lead for good, 5-3, as junior right-hander Kaitlyn Boone retired the side in order to give AIC game one.
Game 2: Post University 12, American International College 4 (6 Innings)
But game two was exactly what Post needed to give themselves some momentum heading back into conference play as well as boost their offense in general. Putting up a 12-run performance against AIC, everyone would reach base in some capacity for the Eagles while all but one starter would cross the plate at one point or another.
A McGrath sacrifice bunt plus an error followed by a sacrifice fly by junior catcher Samantha Sanchez made it 2-0 against senior right-hander Jenny Riquelme before the Post blitz came. Tomasiello and freshman outfielder Allysa Calabrese each plated runs to tie it at two all after one before the third inning would be an offensive explosion.
Trailing 3-2 after a sacrifice fly by senior third baseman Kodi Gora, the Eagles went on to score seven unanswered runs starting with an RBI single by senior outfielder Julia Maida. Junior infielder Brooke Dickenson gave Post the lead with her RBI groundout followed by a two-run double by Perruso to double up AIC, 6-3. The big blow came in the next inning from Tomasiello whose three-run moonshot to left field expanded the lead to six runs.
Leading still by five into the bottom of the sixth, Perruso singled home two more runs as part of her four-RBI game and Riccardulli doubled home the game-ending run as the Eagles won by the eight-run mercy rule in six innings to snap their five-game losing streak, 12-4.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Lily Tomasiello had a breakout doubleheader, going 4-for-7 with a home run, five RBIs, and two runs scored – Tomasiello entered the day hitting .171 with only five hits since the March 4th opener at home
- With four RBIs in game two, Carli Perruso set a new single-game record and single-season record for runs batted in having five overall this season – Perruso's previous career best was two runs batted in back in 2022
- Sam Riccardulli had a big doubleheader overall, going 4-for-5 with a double, two RBIs, four walks, and two runs scored
- Post University is now 2-12 on the season when allowing the first run of the game while dropping to 1-2 when scoring first
- Scoring 12 runs in game two, this is the first time since April 13th, 2023 in which Post University has put up 10-plus runs – The Eagles scored 22 runs in that game against the College of Saint Rose in a 22-11 extra-inning victory
WHO'S NEXT
Post University returns to conference play on Wednesday afternoon when they will travel to Felician University for a doubleheader against the Golden Falcons starting at 2:30 PM. The two teams met down in Florida less than two weeks ago at the Space Coast Spring Games where they split the pair of games which did not count towards the conference record.
