WATERBURY, Conn. – After dropping nine consecutive games dating back to last year, the Post University Baseball bats and pitching have come to life over the last two weeks. Winners of five straight games after sweeping past Georgian Court University in their doubleheader home opener on Sunday, 5-1 and 15-7, the Post offense has put up 10-plus runs in three of their last five games during the winning streak and 53 total runs since their first win of the season against Bentley University.
Post is now 4-0 to start conference play for the first time since the 2017 season when they swept Goldey-Beacom College and Caldwell University to start that season.
THE BASICS
Post University 5, Georgian Court University 1
Post University 15, Georgian Court University 7 (7 Innings)
Post University (5-7, 4-0 CACC)
Georgian Court University (1-11, 0-4 CACC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Post University 5, Georgian Court University 1
Striking first like they did yesterday in game one, Georgian Court got on the board first with an RBI fielder's choice by graduate infielder Sammy Cruz off of graduate right-hander
Joe Christiana before he would settle in. The rest of Christiana's start would be near perfect as he spun six innings of three-hit ball with that one run allowed, four strikeouts, and one hit batter.
Picking up their starter on the mound, the Eagle offense got a balanced attack with five different players driving in runs through the heart of the order. Continuing his impressive week at the dish was senior third baseman
Justin Rivera as he tied the game up in the first with a sacrifice fly to right, finishing the game 0-for-2 with that RBI and a walk.
Part of a stretch of five unanswered runs, graduate first baseman
Hayden Roberge gave Post the lead with his RBI ground out in the third before graduate outfielder
Jaylen Kelley's moon shot to left field extended the lead to two, 3-1, in the fourth. Junior left-hander Ryan Bilello lasted five innings for the Lions, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts, two walks, and a wild pitch in his outing.
More insurance runs would come across the plate in the seventh as sophomore infielder
Maico Cardona and junior catcher
Eric Perez each had RBI singles, making it a 5-1 ballgame while freshman right-hander
Logan Pulitano pitched his way to his first collegiate save. Pitching the final three innings, Pulitano faced the minimum nine batters in his relief appearance, allowing two hits which were wiped out by a pair of double plays in the victory.
Game 2: Post University 15, Georgian Court University 7 (7 Innings)
Racking up 15 runs in their game two win, every single starter for Post was able to reach base while the entire lineup would bat around in the first inning alone in what would be an eight-run frame. Roberge's first-inning single for the Eagles would be the start of a 3-for-4 game with a double, two RBIs, and three runs scored en route to his 11 straight game in which he has reached base safely.
Freshman right-hander Anthony Ortega was responsible for all of the eight runs in the first inning that Georgian Court would allow as he walked five batters in addition to the five hits and two wild pitches he allowed. The Eagles would put up 11 runs of offense through the first two innings of the seven-inning affair as junior right-hander Josiah Madera, who relieved Ortega in the second, allowed three more runs on two hits with two walks as the Lions would turn to six different pitchers with each going one inning apiece.
Sophomore right-hander
Zion Fraser had a solid start on the mound for Post, moving to 2-0 on the season, spinning six innings in which he allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts, two walks, and a hit batter. Junior right-hander
Harby Valera finished off the 15-7 win, pitching the seventh inning and allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits as the Eagles finished the day putting up a combined 20 runs of offense to just eight runs allowed by their four pitchers.
Graduate catcher
Isaiah Velazco led all Post players with a four-RBI game two after recording a single, double, walk, and a run scored while
Damaurys Rodriguez capped off the day with a 2-for-3 showing with two RBIs, a walk, and a run scored. Rodriguez finished the doubleheader 4-for-8 overall with two RBIs, a run scored, a stolen base, and a walk in the sweep for the Eagles.
BY THE NUMBERS
- After having his hitting streak snapped in game two yesterday, Hayden Roberge got right back to it in the batter's box with a 4-for-7 doubleheader, Roberge extended his on-base streak to 11 straight games in the process with his three-RBI game that saw him manufacture a double and four runs scored
- Damaurys Rodriguez also had a big doubleheader for Post University after having a 4-for-8 afternoon with two RBIs, a run scored, a stolen base, and a walk
- Logan Pulitano recorded his first collegiate save, throwing three scoreless innings in game one while allowing just two hits in his relief appearance
- Post University is now 4-0 in conference play after sweeping past Georgian Court University this weekend – This is the first time since the 2017 season in which the Eagles have started the year with a 4-0 mark against conference opponents
WHO'S NEXT
Post University plays a nine-inning make-up game against Southern New Hampshire University, who are currently ranked 11th in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association National Poll, as of right now, on Wednesday afternoon at Municipal Stadium with a 3:30 PM first pitch scheduled. The two teams were supposed to meet back on March 2nd, but due to cold weather, their doubleheader was postponed, and the date of the second game is still to be determined.
