BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Senior outfielder Jaylen Kelley exploded for Post University Baseball to close out a three-game sweep of the University of Bridgeport on Saturday afternoon, going 4-for-9 with a grand slam, two doubles, six runs batted in, and two runs scored as part of a pair of seven-inning wins for the Eagles, 16-0 and 6-2. Senior shortstop Evan Cornwell also showed out with a 4-for-8 afternoon, recording five RBIs, a walk, and four runs scored.
THE BASICS
Post University 16, University of Bridgeport 0 (7 Innings)
Post University 6, University of Bridgeport 2 (7 Innings)
Post University (18-16, 10-3 CACC)
University of Bridgeport (6-22, 4-6 CACC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Post University 16, University of Bridgeport 0 (7 Innings)
Picking up right where they left off, the Eagles would hang 16 runs on Bridgeport pitching in game one to force the 10-run mercy rule after just seven innings of the scheduled nine-inning game. Graduate right-hander Joe Christiana got the start for Post and had his third straight quality start after lasting six innings in which he allowed no runs on four hits with six strikeouts, four walks, and a hit batter.
Five different players scored runs for the Eagles in the win, but no one had a bigger day than Kelley in the designated hitter spot. Kelley was 3-for-5 with five RBIs and fell just a triple short of the cycle after hitting an RBI double, a single later on, and then a grand slam in the fifth inning.
Cornwell was also swinging a hot bat with a 4-for-6 game with four singles leading to four RBIs and scoring three times as well. Freshman catcher Brian Zweigbaum notched his first collegiate home run in the third inning, a two-run home run, while catching for Christiana and then graduate right-hander Noah Connor who closed out Post's fifth shutout of the season with a scoreless seventh inning in the 16-0 win.
Senior right-hander Justin Nyarady lasted just 2 2/3 innings for the Purple Knights while giving up nine runs (four earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
Game 2: Post University 6, University of Bridgeport 2 (7 Innings)
After a leadoff double for Kelley in the second inning of game two was wiped away with a pickoff play to second, a walk to Zweigbaum, a single for junior infielder Hunter Keller, and a two-out walk to senior outfielder Michael Pavelchak helped Post get their first run of the day on a wild pitch by sophomore left-hander Alex Springer.
Scoring for the first time in the three-game series was the Purple Knights in the bottom of that same inning as an RBI groundout for junior infielder Christian Ortiz off sophomore right-hander Nick Semon tied the game up at one all for just one inning. In the fourth, both teams which exchange a run each again with a sacrifice fly for Cornwell plating a run for the Eagles and a single from senior outfielder Jake Woods tying the game after a fielding error by graduate outfielder DJ Caron, making it 2-2 in the seven-inning game.
Four unanswered runs would do the trick for Post to earn the doubleheader and three-game series sweep of Bridgeport as an error by Woods in left on a single from junior third baseman Justin Rivera scored one in the fifth. Three runs came across in the sixth starting with three wild pitches from junior right-hander Tim Dolan leading to the first along with a passed ball by sophomore right-hander Tyler Hodella and a fielder's choice for Kelley.
As for Semon, he would finish things off with a complete seven-inning game in which he allowed just two runs (one earned) on four hits with 11 strikeouts and four walks in the 6-2 win. The 11 strikeouts were a season-high for Semon who had previously recorded a season-high seven strikeouts twice with his starts against Southern New Hampshire and Goldey-Beacom.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Michael Pavelchak extended his hitting streak to 14 straight games after picking up a hit in game one but with an 0-for-2 game two saw it come to an end – Pavelchak has reached base safely in 15 straight games
- Jaylen Kelley had a career day for Post University, going 4-for-9 with a home run, two doubles, six RBIs, and two runs scored in the doubleheader
- Post University is now 13-4 on the season when they score the game's first run after scoring first in both games while remaining 5-12 when allowing the first run
- As a team, Post University pitching has thrown five shutouts this season, that is the most single-season shutouts for the Eagles since they had six during the 2017 campaign
WHO'S NEXT
Post University is back on the field down at Wilmington University tomorrow afternoon for a pair of seven-inning games against the Wildcats scheduled to start at 12:00 PM. The Eagles have won four of their last five against Wilmington and three straight which includes a 7-1 victory in the CACC Tournament last year.
