WATERBURY, Conn. – It was not the start that Post University Softball hoped to get off to with their 2024 season when they kicked things off at LaMoy Field against Franklin Pierce University in a Monday afternoon doubleheader, but in a long season there were some positives to draw from on both sides of the ball.
Freshman right-handed pitchers Allysa Calabrese and Devin Barnett both made their collegiate debuts on the mound and showed flashes of excellence in their appearances while strong offensive performances from senior shortstop Caitlin DeAngelis and graduate outfielder Samantha Riccardulli marked the 17-5 and 7-0 defeats for the Eagles.
THE BASICS
Post University 5, Franklin Pierce University 17
Post University 0, Franklin Pierce University 7 (5 Innings)
Post University (0-2)
Franklin Pierce University (2-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Post University 5, Franklin Pierce University 17
Four first-inning runs for the Ravens helped them pace the offense in game one as three straight hits from the top of the lineup led to senior outfielder Ashely Cangiano's RBI double to kick off the scoring. Junior first baseman Anna Erikson drove in two more runs with her infield single followed by an RBI single for freshman infielder Danielle Belliveau all charged to senior right-handed pitcher Jenny Riquelme to put Franklin Pierce ahead 4-0 after one.
Facing senior pitcher Samantha Sylvester, the Eagles would get two back in the third on a wild pitch scoring Riccardulli followed by Riquelme's second hit of the game to make it a 4-2 ballgame. Cagiano would answer back in the very next inning on offense for the Ravens with a three-run home run to re-extend the Raven lead to five runs this time, 7-2. Calabrese would pitch the final three innings for Post, allowing 10 runs (eight earned) on seven hits while walking four and striking out one.
DeAngelis's RBI double and senior infielder Lily Tomasiello's RBI single in the seventh looked to give the Eagles some momentum heading into game two as Post dropped their first game of the season, 17-5.
Game 2: Post University 0, Franklin Pierce University 7 (5 Innings)
Cagiano would continue to be a key piece for the Ravens in game two as she drove in two runs on a pair of sacrifice flies while sophomore infielder Kierra Warrix tacked on two RBIs of her own during a 3-for-3 performance as part of a seven-run effort for Franklin Pierce in their five-inning win over the Eagles.
Junior infielder Lia Vorseth and Belliveau each brought in a runner with an RBI single as well while senior right-handed pitcher Sabrina Gonzalez three a four-hit shutout in which she had three strikeouts and a walk. On the other side, Barnett made her collegiate debut on the mound and threw all five innings in which she gave up seven runs on 12 hits with two strikeouts, a walk, and a wild pitch.
DeAngelis led Post with a 2-for-3 performance offensively in the 7-0 shutout loss which ended after five innings as darkness began to descend on LaMoy Field.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Going 2-for-2 with two singles in game one, Jenny Riquelme recorded her first hits since her freshman season when she went 2-for-4 against Chestnut Hill – Riquelme had nine career at-bats entering the day and two career hits
- Caitlin DeAngelis and Samantha Riccardulli each recorded three hits apiece in the doubleheader with two singles and a double – DeAngelis drove in a run, scored once, and walked once while Riccardulli walked twice and scored three times
- As a staff today, Post pitching allowed 24 total runs in the doubleheader defeat with 21 runs being earned, giving up 30 hits, striking out only four batters, and walking five
- This is the first shutout loss for Post University since April 22nd, 2023 against Goldey-Beacom College on the road, 3-0 – The last home shutout loss for the Eagles came on April 16th, 2023 in a 4-0 defeat against Wilmington University
WHO'S NEXT
Post University will play one more doubleheader before heading to Florida for spring break on Wednesday afternoon at LaMoy Field against Southern Connecticut State University with game one scheduled for 1:00 PM. The Eagles are 7-3 all-time against the Owls and before splitting their doubleheader against them last season, had won five straight games in the series.
