PHILADELPHIA, Penn. – Finishing out their third consecutive doubleheader in as many days and arguably its toughest opponent of the stretch in 14th nationally-ranked Jefferson University, two innings decided the outcome of both games for and against Post University Baseball. Flexing their offensive prowess in game one, an 11-run first inning from the Rams paced them to a 17-3 win while the Eagles salvaged a split after putting up 10 runs in the fourth inning of their 14-2 game two victory.
THE BASICS
Post University 3, #14 Jefferson University 17 (7 Innings)
Post University 14, #14 Jefferson University 2 (7 Innings)
Post University (21-16, 17-7 CACC)
#14 Jefferson University (28-12, 20-6 CACC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Post University 3, #14 Jefferson University 17 (7 Innings)
11 runs in the first inning would be all the Rams needed to cruise to the win as they sent a total of 18 batters to the dish, manufacturing those 11 runs on 10 hits. Of those 10 hits, nine of them would be singles, with the lone extra-base hit being a two-run triple from graduate infielder Javon Hernandez that made it a 10-run lead.
All of the Jefferson runs in that big offensive frame came with less than two outs against sophomore left-hander
Kyle Sparks, who ended up going 2 1/3 innings in his first collegiate start. Sparks would give up 12 runs on 13 hits to the Rams while striking out and walking three as well as throwing two wild pitches, falling to 1-2 on the year.
Six players for Jefferson finished with multi-hit games while a trio had three-hit games in the 17-3 victory. Freshman infielders Thomas Matuszewski and Kevin Baez, as well as graduate outfielder Jay Kalieta, combined to go 9-for-12 with seven RBIs, five runs scored, three stolen bases, two extra-base hits, and a walk in their three-hit games.
Senior third baseman
Justin Rivera and freshman infielder
Rene Vega III had the pair of RBI singles that led to Post's runs, while a wild pitch from junior right-hander Orion Frailey plated the other. Frailey got his first win of the season after throwing 5 2/3 innings in which he allowed three runs on four hits with five strikeouts, three walks, a hit batter, and a wild pitch.
Game 2: Post University 14, #14 Jefferson University 2 (7 Innings)
Defined by a 10-run fourth inning, the Eagles put up the first 14 runs of game two before Jefferson's only two runs came in the sixth inning on a two-run blast from junior outfielder Luis Beato Mora. While 13 of the 14 runs came via hits for Post, only four of the 14 total runs were earned runs against Rams' pitching, as seven errors, their most in a game since March 10th, 2013, would aid in the Eagles exploding offensively.
Sophomore outfielder
Dario Sosa and Rivera's RBI singles off right-hander Gabe Silva gave Post an early 2-0 advantage before the floodgates opened in that fourth inning. Four of the first five Eagles to face Silva would reach base safely on singles, plating three runs, while sophomore infielder
Jesse Alfalla reached on a throwing error from Silva. After the right-hander was lifted, two more errors, for a total of three in the inning, helped Post keep the foot on the gas to the tune of 10 runs on eight hits, spanning across three different arms that hit the mound for the Rams.
Returning the favor in game two, six players finished with multi-hit games for Post, led by the duo of senior utility player
Damaurys Rodriguez and graduate outfielder
Jaylen Kelley, who went a combined 6-for-10 with a double, five RBIs, and three runs scored. Rodriguez and Kelley were two of four players with two or more runs batted in as Alfalla drove in two as well to go along with his three runs scored, while Vega III plated two.
Sophomore right-hander Sebastian Velazquez notched his first win of the season on the mound for Post, throwing six innings of two-run ball, giving up six hits while punching out four, walking two, hitting one, and throwing one wild pitch across 109 pitches.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Damaurys Rodriguez led the Post University offense in the doubleheader, finishing the day 4-for-7 with three RBIs, three runs scored, and a walk
- The 16-hit performance for Post University marked the 16th time this season in which they have finished with 10-plus hits, which has culminated in a 13-3 record in those 16 games played
- In his fifth start for Post University, Sebastian Velazquez picks up his first win after going six innings in which he allowed two runs on six hits with four strikeouts, two walks, one hit batter, and a wild pitch
- The seven errors committed by Jefferson University in the second game were their most since March 10th, 2013, when they committed eight errors against Millersville in a 20-2 loss
WHO'S NEXT
After a couple of days off, Post University returns to the field on Friday and Saturday at Municipal Stadium against Bloomfield College, with both doubleheaders set to start at 12:00 PM each day. The two teams have not met since the 2023 season, when the Eagles took two out of the three games they played against the Bears.
