WATERBURY, Conn. – After a second-inning scare for Post University Baseball in game one that saw them fall behind against Bloomfield College, 4-0, the Eagles' defense and offense recovered to hold the Bears scoreless for the next 14 innings of Friday afternoon's doubleheader at Municipal Stadium, scoring 14 unanswered runs to sweep the pair of games, 9-4 and 5-0. 

THE BASICS

Post University 9, Bloomfield College 4
 
Post University 5, Bloomfield College 0 (7 Innings)
 
Post University (23-16, 19-7 CACC)

Bloomfield College (0-32, 0-22 CACC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1: Post University 9, Bloomfield College 4
A sloppy start to the game for Post resulted in Bloomfield taking a four-run lead in the second inning as back-to-back errors by sophomore infielder Jesse Alfalla put two runners on with nobody out in the frame. Following a walk issued by freshman right-hander Logan Pulitano, sophomore utilityman Mirquis Erazo singled in a run to put the Bears on the board.

Two more run-scoring hits from senior outfielder Malachi Jones and sophomore shortstop Robert Jimenez added to the lead, making it a 4-0 game. Over the next two innings, the Eagles would answer back to tie the game up at four all, but largely in part due to command issues from freshman pitcher Michael Felumero. Lasting only 2 2/3 innings, Felumero allowed just one hit, a first-inning double to freshman infielder Rene Vega III, but allowed seven walks, four wild pitches, and one hit batter in the outing.

The hit batter and three of those walks all came with two outs in the second, giving Post their first run of the game, while three more walks and three wild pitches around a sacrifice fly by sophomore infielder Maico Cardona pulled the game even and ended Felumero's day.

But the offense for the Eagles would not be done for the day, taking the lead in the fourth on an RBI triple by graduate catcher Isaiah Velazco, this week's NCBWA East Region Player of the Week, and expanding on that edge with Rene Vega III's RBI single in the fifth. In all, Post's offense would score nine unanswered runs by the time graduate utilityman Hayden Roberge doubled home two in the seventh, leading the Eagles to a 9-4 win in game one.

After that rough second inning for Pulitano, aided by errors, he would go on to throw five innings, allowing four runs (none earned), on five hits with six strikeouts, two walks, and a wild pitch. Junior right-hander Harby Valera got his second save of the season after throwing four shutout innings, allowing only one hit, and striking out five. 

Game 2: Post University 5, Bloomfield College 0 (7 Innings)
Shutting down the Bears in game two, sophomore right-hander Zion Fraser and freshman right-hander CJ Pierce combined to throw a combined shutout across the seven-inning game. Fraser, who pitched the first six innings, allowed just three hits and struck out nine hitters, while Pierce threw a scoreless seventh, allowing one hit and striking out two. In total, Post pitching struck out 11 hitters and allowed just four baserunners in game two. 

Freshman pitcher Elian Estrella had a strong outing as well for the Bears, but would be done in by fielding errors and eight wild pitches in his five-inning start. An error by sophomore second baseman Elder Maldanado to start the first would come around to score on an RBI ground out by Velazco, while Estrella's bad throw on a pickoff attempt in the second plated graduate outfielder Jaylen Kelley to expand Post's lead to two and eventually three after a wild pitch by the freshman. 

The final two runs of the afternoon for the Eagles would come in the fifth inning as senior utilityman Damaurys Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to score Alfalla and after Velazco set up runners on second and third with one out, Rivera's ground out would give Post its fifth run of the game and 14th unanswered run of the afternoon. En route to their 5-0 shutout win, Fraser and Pierce allowed just one runner to reach base over the final two innings, in junior infielder Joseph Kline via a single in the sixth inning. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Of the 14 runs scored by Post University today, only four of them came via base hits, while four came via walks/wild pitches, three from sacrifice flies, two on ground outs, and one by error
• The pitching staff for Bloomfield College spanned across seven different arms, allowing 20 walks, 14 wild pitches, and getting only five strikeouts – Walks and wild pitches accounted for four of Post University's runs today 
• In total, both teams committed 11 combined errors in the doubleheader as Post University had five errors, all in the first game, while Bloomfield College committed a total of six, with two in game one, followed by four in game two 
• Today's doubleheader between the two programs was the first time they have met since the 2023 season, as Bloomfield College's season was cut short last year – The Eagles have now won three in a row against the Bears and own the all-time series, 37-33

WHO'S NEXT
Post University closes the four-game set against Bloomfield College right back at Municipal Stadium tomorrow afternoon with another doubleheader starting at 12:00 PM.