CALDWELL, N.J. – Graduate right-hander Joe Christiana made program history for the most strikeouts in a career in game one while junior catcher Eric Perez completed the comeback for Post University Baseball in game two against Caldwell University in Sunday's road doubleheader to help the Eagles sweep the Cougars, 3-2 and 5-3, improving to a program-record 8-0 to start Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play this season. 

THE BASICS

Post University 3, Caldwell University 2 
 
Post University 5, Caldwell University 3 (7 Innings)
 
Post University (9-8, 8-0 CACC)

Caldwell University (9-9, 3-7 CACC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1: Post University 3, Caldwell University 2 
Christiana moved to 2-0 on the season as his seven-inning outing saw him make program history after finishing with six strikeouts. Recording 192 strikeouts in his career now, he surpassed former teammate Matt Goehrig (2018-23) for the program record which stood at 191 strikeouts. 

In addition to the record, the graduate student allowed just two runs (one earned) on four hits with those six strikeouts to hit the record, one walk, and one hit batter. It would take the Cougars 4 1/3 innings to get a base runner against Christiana before a walk and an infield single on a chopper by freshman infielder Chris Hopf ended both the perfect game and no-hitter.

Post would take an early 1-0 lead behind an infield single from senior third baseman Justin Rivera and add to it in the sixth against sophomore right-hander Alfonso Esposito with a sacrifice fly by sophomore infielder Maico Cardona. A leadoff triple by junior infielder Christian Rinick put Caldwell in business in the sixth as an RBI single from junior infielder Stephen Young Jr. and a two-out RBI single by senior infielder Sean Brown, following a Cardona error that moved Young Jr. to third, tied the game at two all. 

Sophomore infielder Jesse Alfalla, who had five RBIs in yesterday's doubleheader, would provide the go-ahead run for the Eagles after laying down a bunt that would be thrown away by freshman right-hander Johnny Amato, scoring Perez. Freshman right-hander CJ Pierce would close out the final 1 1/3 innings for Post, notching his second save in less than 24 hours, pushing the Eagles to 7-0 in conference play with the 3-2 win. 
 
Game 2: Post University 5, Caldwell University 3 (7 Innings)
Junior catcher Manny Contreras got the Eagles on the board first in game two with his RBI double while Perez was thrown out at the plate on the play, keeping the Post lead at one in the second inning. Junior infielder Cole Rinick, who went 3-for-4 with a run scored, tied the game up an inning later as a double steal allowed him to swipe second while junior outfielder Christian Petino Jr. scored from third which would be the start of three unanswered runs for Caldwell.

Recording his only hit of the game and the lone extra-base hit for the Cougars, senior outfielder Liam Lombardi's two-run triple put the home team ahead by two, 3-1, against sophomore right-hander Jack Martineau, making his first start in 22 days. Outside of that hit, Martineau would turn in a solid start in his return, lasting five innings in which he only threw 47 pitches while allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts, one walk, and one hit batter.

Senior right-hander Brandon Scalisi, who looked to go the distance and pick up the complete-game win for Caldwell, allowed an RBI double to graduate catcher Isaiah Velazco in the sixth, cutting the Cougar lead in half, 3-2, with three outs standing between them and salvaging the final game of the weekend. However, Scalisi was unable to get the job done in the seventh as senior third baseman Justin Rivera's sacrifice fly tied the game before Perez's two-run double with two outs gave Post their first lead since the second inning, 5-3.

Shutting the door on his third win of the season was sophomore right-hander Zion Fraser, throwing a scoreless final two innings while allowing no hits and striking out four to secure the doubleheader sweep on Sunday for the Eagles and their program-best start in conference play. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Joe Christiana became the all-time leader in strikeouts for Post University after tallying six while earning his second win of the season – Christiana now has 192 strikeouts in his career, surpassing Matt Goehrig (2018-23) for the most all-time which was 191 strikeouts 
• Jesse Alfalla finished the week going 7-for-17 with five RBIs, three walks, three runs scored, a double, and a stolen bases for Post University -- Alfalla has now reached bases safely in all 14 games he has played for the Eagles so far this season 
• Sweeping the doubleheader today, Post University has now won 13 consecutive games against Caldwell University which is the longest winning streak in the all-time series – The previous longest winning streak in the head-to-head was seven straight games for the Eagles from March 13th, 2018 until April 3rd, 2019 
• At 8-0 in conference play to start the season, this is the first time in program history in which Post University has won its first eight conference games to start a season 

WHO'S NEXT
Post University heads into a mid-week matchup against Chestnut Hill College on the road this Wednesday afternoon with game one being nine innings starting at noon followed by a seven-inning game two, 30 minutes after the end of the first game. Last season, the Eagles swept the Griffins at home in a pair of seven-inning games, including their first no-hitter in program history by Matt Semon.