WATERBURY, Conn. – It was the day of the pitchers for Post University Baseball, but no performance was bigger than senior right-hander Matt Semon's historical game one. Becoming the first player in program history to throw a complete game no-hitter, Semon etched his name in Post history with a 4-0 win over Chestnut Hill College. Not to be outdone, junior right-hander Brennan Holligan's masterful game two helped the Eagles to a doubleheader sweep with their second straight shutout of the Griffins, 3-0.

THE BASICS

Post University 4, Chestnut Hill College 0 (7 Innings)
 
Post University 3, Chestnut Hill College 0 (7 Innings)

Post University (12-14, 4-1 CACC)

Chestnut Hill College (7-17, 1-6 CACC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1: Post University 4, Chestnut Hill College 0 (7 Innings)
It was not easy or pretty for Matt Semon through the first couple of innings as a leadoff hit batter and a one-out walk put two on for the Griffins before junior catcher Jimmy Brennan threw out graduate outfielder R.J. Huth and Semon struck out senior infielder John Crane to end the threat. Brennan would help Post score their first run with a two-out RBI single scoring senior shortstop Evan Cornwell, who doubled with one out, followed by a second run via wild pitcher by junior pitcher Jake Schweiker.

In the second, Semon would load the bases up with two outs before getting Huth to strike out swinging, and again with two runners on and one out, Semon came back to retire the next two batters in the third to escape trouble. Senior infielder Chris Corchado extended Post's lead to three with an RBI single and junior third baseman Justin Rivera reached on a fielder's choice to make it 4-0 Eagles before the scoring seized for them.

Meanwhile, on the mound, Semon continued to dominate as the later innings came on and allowed just three runners to reach base via two hit batters and a walk. While there would be some close calls on balls hit just foul, the right-hander went into the final inning with a chance to make history which was nearly lost with one out. Freshman infielder Aiden Myers hit a shallow fly ball towards center field and backpedaling was Cornwell for the over-the-shoulder grab to preserve the no-hitter.

Cornwell would assist on the final out when he flipped to junior infielder Hunter Keller at second for the fielder's choice that secured Semon's no-hitter. Semon's final line was seven innings of no-hit ball in which he had six strikeouts, four walks, a wild pitch, and five hit batters on 116 pitches.  

Game 2: Post University 3, Chestnut Hill College 0 (7 Innings)
While Holligan gave up a hit in the first inning to snap the no-hit streak and also had to escape trouble with runners on the corners and two outs, he would settle in as Semon did. In the first two innings, Post would get runners on third base but were unable to score before finally breaking through in the third inning for two runs.

Back-to-back walks by junior pitcher Ben Bradt would prove costly as the Eagles would eventually load the bases up with sophomore pitcher Colby Seelig on the mound now. Graduate outfielder DJ Caron laced a two-run single into right before the bats went quiet on both sides as Seelig settled in for 1 1/3 innings in which he gave up just that one hit to Caron and walked a batter.

In his place came in senior pitcher Marlon Rose who allowed the only other run of the game on an RBI single from Keller in the sixth as Holligan shut down the Griffin lineup. In all, the junior threw a complete game in which he allowed no runs on three hits with six strikeouts, two walks, and a wild pitch to help the Eagles get the sweep with a 3-0 win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Matt Semon becomes the first player in program history to throw a complete game no-hitter in a scheduled seven-inning affair – Mitch Furber threw a five-inning no-hitter back in 2009 in a shortened game
• Post University is now 8-3 on the season when they score the game's first run after scoring first in both games today
• This season, Post University has recorded four shutouts – This is the first time since the Felician University doubleheader on April 24^th, 2022 in which the Eagles have recorded shutouts in back-to-back games of a doubleheader as well as the first time since that same date in which they have done it against a conference opponent
• After losing six of seven games against Chestnut Hill entering the day, Post University has now won three of the last four against the Griffins while earning their first doubleheader sweep of them since the 2017 season

WHO'S NEXT

Post University closes their five-game homestand with a matchup against Dominican (N.Y.) slated for next Wednesday at 3:00 PM from Municipal Stadium. It will be a single, nine-inning game before the two teams meet again on Friday in Orangeburg, New York. While the Eagles hold a 25-50 record in the all-time series against the Chargers, they have won their last five matchups since 2022 and six of the last seven dating back to 2021.