PHILADELPHIA, Penn. – After coming to life offensively in game two yesterday against Bloomfield College, Post University Softball hoped to build off that momentum in today's conference doubleheader against Holy Family University on the road. A seven-run fifth led the Tigers to a game one mercy rule, 8-0, before an extra-inning affair in game two after the Eagles came back from a three-run deficit ended in a 5-4 defeat as Post fell to 1-9 in conference play with the sweep.
THE BASICS
Post University 0, Holy Family University 8 (5 Innings)
Post University 4, Holy Family University 5 (9 Innings)
Post University (4-22, 1-9 CACC)
Holy Family University (5-24, 2-6 CACC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Post University 0, Holy Family University 8 (5 Innings)
Right off the bat, Post would have a chance to take the lead as they would load up the bases with one out in the first inning against fifth-year right-handed pitcher Makenna Patterson. Patterson would escape trouble though by retiring senior outfielder Julia Maida and junior infielder Bailey Dickenson via strikeout and line out respectively.
After allowing those two hits in the first inning, Patterson would allow just one the rest of the game to Post in her five-inning shutout win in which she allowed no runs on three hits with four strikeouts and a walk. After four solid innings of work for freshman left-hander Devin Barnett, who allowed just one run on a solo home run by junior first baseman Sam Ciasullo, things would unravel in the fifth inning, leading to the eight-run mercy rule coming into play which led the Holy Family's game one win, 8-0.
With one out and runners on the corners, an RBI ground out by junior catcher Alexis Letizia plated the second run of the day for the Tigers and put Barnett one out away from ending the inning. However, a costly error by third by senior Caitlin DeAngelis extended the inning and scored another run to make it a 3-0 game. With two runners on and two outs, junior infielder Carlie Miller doubled home another run and Barnett walked the next batter she faced which ended her outing.
Junior right-hander Alyssa Hughes came in to expel the threat, but facing her first batter in junior shortstop Kylee Jones, allowed a grand slam to her which ended the game. Barnett's line closed with her giving up seven runs but only two earned on nine hits with one walk in 4 2/3 innings of work while Hughes was only charged with the hit and run in Jones.
Game 2: Post University 4, Holy Family University 5 (9 Innings)
Making her second start in as many days, senior right-hander Maddison Caldwell was given a 1-0 lead after the first inning as an RBI single from Bailey Dickenson put Post ahead first in game two. But a four-run inning by Holy Family in the second would flip the game in favor of them as an RBI single from junior outfielder Lauren Hagy tied the game at one to start the scoring.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Caldwell's error would plate and run, allowing the inning to continue for Letizia who had a two-run single up the middle to complete the four-runs of offense that gave the Tigers a 4-1 lead. However, Post would chip away at the deficit with three unanswered runs between the third and fifth innings which would eventually force extra innings.
Another RBI single for Bailey Dickenson and the second home run in as many days for senior infielder Lily Tomasiello helped the Eagles pull even at four and have a golden opportunity to take the lead in the ninth inning. With graduate outfielder Samantha Riccardulli at second as the international tiebreaker rule runner, a double by DeAngelis moved her to third, and eventually Post would load the bases with nobody out.
But freshman right-hander Kinsley Hall would escape the jam with an infield fly from Tomasiello, a fielder's choice from Bailey Dickenson, and a line out from Maida to retire the side. With nobody on and two outs, Caldwell would allow back-to-back singles leading to an RBI single from Ciasullo, giving the Tigers the doubleheader sweep with the 5-4 extra-inning win.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Lily Tomasiello has now hit a home run in three straight doubleheaders for Post University, bringing her season total to four – Tomasiello has now hit two home runs at home and two on the road this season
- With the game one shutout loss, Post University has now been shut out in 11 games this season which puts them at second-most for a single-season in program history behind only the 2013 team which had 12 shutouts that year
- Post University is now 2-16 when allowing the first run of the game this season and 2-6 when scoring first after doing so in game two of today's doubleheader
- Post University has now dropped four of their last five games against Holy Family and has been swept by them for the first time since the 2017 season
WHO'S NEXT
Post University finishes up their six games in three days with Senior Day at LaMoy Field tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 PM against Jefferson University in a rescheduled matchup from March 23rd. The Eagles have lost four of their last six matchups against the Rams having been swept last year on the road by them after sweeping them at home in 2022.
