LAKEWOOD, N.J. –  Senior third baseman Justin Rivera exploded for a 6-for-10 afternoon with three doubles, three RBIs, and two runs scored to help Post University Baseball open up their conference slate with a doubleheader sweep against Georgian Court University on the road, 14-4 and in comeback fashion 5-4 in game two, in what is the inaugural season for the Lions as a baseball program. Senior utility player Damaurys Rodriguez had the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning to complete the comeback in game two, giving the Eagles a three-game winning streak after an 0-7 start to the season. 

THE BASICS

Post University 14, Georgian Court University 4
 
Post University 5, Georgian Court University 4 (7 Innings)
 
Post University (3-7, 2-0 CACC)

Georgian Court University (1-9, 0-2 CACC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1: Post University 14, Georgian Court University 4
Graduate first baseman Hayden Roberge got the big offensive performance started for the Eagles with a sacrifice fly in the first inning as part of his 1-for-4 game, which extended his hitting streak to eight straight games, as well as his on-base streak to nine consecutive games. That first run would be the start of 10 unanswered runs to start things off for Post, putting them on the cusp of a seven-inning, 10-run mercy rule before the Lions were able to respond.

Sophomore outfielder Dario Sosa mashed his first home run of the season to deep left field, a three-run shot in the fifth inning that made it a 10-0 game while junior catcher Eric Perez notched his first collegiate home run just before that in the fourth inning. Perez closed game one with a stellar 2-for-4 performance with that home run, a double, three runs batted in, and three runs scored.

Rivera and freshman infielder Rene Vega III both tallied three-hit games, marking the third time this season Vega III has had a multi-hit game while being the fourth time for Rivera. The senior was 3-for-6 with two doubles, three RBIs, and one run scored in what would be a 14-4 victory for Post.

Senior right-hander Brennan Holligan spun six solid innings of work to pick up his first win of the season, allowing only three runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. Holligan's only blemish would be a three-run home run allowed to freshman catcher Israel Garcia in his final inning of work with two outs. 
 
Game 2: Post University 5, Georgian Court University 4 (7 Innings)
Sophomore right-hander Sebastian Velasquez got his first start since March 1st against Bentley University on the mound for Post, throwing 3 2/3 innings in which he allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits to go along with three strikeouts and two walks for a total of 57 pitches. Senior outfielder Alex Elliott got the Lions on the board first with his RBI single in the first inning followed by a solo home run, the second of the day, for Garcia in the second, giving Georgian Court a 2-0 lead after two. 

Responding to take the lead over the next two innings would be the Eagles as a trio of RBI singles between the third and fourth innings by sophomore infielders Jesse Alfalla and Maico Cardona along with graduate utility player Isaiah Velazco flipped the game back in Post's favor, 3-2, with 3 1/2 innings still to play. Wasting no time to regain the lead in the fourth were the Lions as freshman outfielder Joshua Moreno's RBI single plated two runs after an error by Alfalla allowed the second run to come across.

But the same situation would go in favor of Post in the sixth inning to help them earn the come-from-behind victory as Rodriguez singled with the bases loaded, scoring the game-tying run before sophomore outfielder Tomas Tamargo's error in left field allowed the go-ahead, and what would eventually be the winning run, to score.

Shutting the door on the 5-4 win for the Eagles was sophomore right-hander Jake Baumann who relieved Velasquez in the fourth inning as he went the final 3 1/3 innings allowing no runs on one hit with six strikeouts, a walk, and a hit batter en route to his first win on the mound this season and the second of his collegiate career.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Hayden Roberge continued his hitting streak, making it eight games in a row while extending his on-base streak to nine straight games after finishing 1-for-4 with two RBIs in game one – Roberge went 0-for-3 in game two, snapping the hit streak but extending the on-base streak to 10 games after being hit by a pitch 
• Justin Rivera finished the afternoon for Post University going 6-for-10 with three doubles, three RBIs, and two runs scored in the doubleheader sweep -- Rivera is now hitting .464 through seven games on the young season with nine RBIs and six doubles
• For Georgian Court, their offense was propelled by Israel Garcia who went 4-for-6 with two home runs, four RBIs, and two runs scored across both games
• Saturday's doubleheader between Post University and Georgian Court University marked the first time in which the two teams have played each other in program history, as this is the inaugural season of the program for the Lions 

WHO'S NEXT
Post University returns to the field immediately tomorrow for their 2025 home opener against Georgian Court University, which will be a doubleheader at Municipal Stadium starting at 12:00 PM with a seven-inning game two following 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one's nine-inning affair.