ASHEBORO, N.C. –  Senior catcher Manny Contreras had a 4-for-9 afternoon for Post University Baseball in their first-ever doubleheader against Cedarville University, which took place in Asheboro, North Carolina, at McCrary Park. Contreras had four doubles, two runs scored, and a run batted in as the Eagles split with the Yellow Jackets, falling 11-6 in game one, before coming back in game two with a 3-1 victory behind freshman right-hander Jacob Schrage's strong four-inning start on the mound. 

THE BASICS

Post University 6, Cedarville University 11
 
Post University 3, Cedarville University 1 (7 Innings)
 
Post University (4-6)
 
Cedarville University (5-9)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1: Post University 6, Cedarville University 11
A big six-RBI game from sophomore outfielder Grayson Weikel helped lead the Cedarville offense to an 11-run output on the Eagles in the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday. Weikel was 4-for-5, falling a double short of the cycle as he had two singles, a triple, and a three-run home run in the seventh that put the game out of reach for Post to make a comeback bid, while also scoring twice.

Graduate shortstop Evan Cornwell was the leader at the plate for the Eagles, going 1-for-3 with three RBIs and a walk, recording an RBI single, a sacrifice fly, and an RBI groundout during his performance at the plate. Contreras tallied his fourth multi-hit game of the season and second three-hit game after going 3-for-5 with three doubles, an RBI, and a run scored.

Post jumped out to a 2-0 lead against senior right-hander Nathaniel Adkins, as Contreras' double and Cornwell's single gave the visitors the lead early, but it would end up being the only time they led the affair. Weikel's two-run triple, followed by an RBI single from freshman outfielder Da'Vonn Stevens, flipped it back in favor of the Yellow Jackets, 3-2, against freshman right-hander Justin Hascup.

Hascup would last two innings, taking the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout, lasting just as long as Adkins for Cedarville, who went two innings, allowing three runs on four hits with two walks and two hit batters. Junior infielder Kaden Wilde's three-run home run off Hascup in the second would give the Yellow Jackets the lead for good after Post tied it at three on a fielder's choice from graduate outfielder Andrew Hartman.

Sophomore right-hander Kade Odom earned the win out of the bullpen for Cedarville, dealing four innings in which he allowed two runs on five hits with two strikeouts. In relief of him, sophomore right-hander Kyle Watson was awarded a three-inning save, finishing the game out, allowing one run on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts as the Yellow Jackets took game one, 11-6.

Game 2: Post University 3, Cedarville University 1 (7 Innings)
All the scoring for both sides happened in the first 1 1/2 innings as the Eagles yet again jumped out to a 2-0 lead, this time on a two-run single by freshman infielder Andrew Rhymestine, which ended up being unearned to senior left-hander Jensen Wagoner. Wagoner had struck up graduate outfielder Andrew Hartman swinging for the third out in the first, but a passed ball issued to Wilde allowed the inning to continue, leading to that crucial two-run single by Rhymestine. 

Schrage's start would begin rough, as he loaded the bases with one out before Stevens cut the lead in half with his sacrifice fly for the second out, leading to Schrage escaping trouble by getting freshman infielder Graham Ward to line out. The only other run of the game came in the second for the Eagles, yet another unearned run, as freshman infielder Ryan Davie's hit back to Wagoner was thrown away, allowing junior outfielder Joey Cohen to score from second after leading off the inning with a double.

The rest of the seven-inning affair, Post would only get two runners in scoring position, unable to cash in on either of them, while the Yellow Jackets looked to solve Schrage and the bullpen to no avail. The freshman worked out of a second and third situation with two outs in the third as well as a runner on second in the fourth before being lifted and put in line for the win. Schrage's final line would be four innings on three-hit ball, allowing one run while striking out five, walking two, and hitting one batter en route to his second win on the mound.

But it would not come without some theatrics, as freshman right-hander JJ Roberts needed to work out of a bases loaded jam with two outs in the fifth, and after runners got on first and second in the seventh with two outs against freshman left-hander Gavin Diegnan, freshman right-hander Andrew Hardin came in for his second save of the season, shutting the door on Stevens after coming in with a 2-0 count. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Manny Contreras finished as the team's leader in hits for the doubleheader, going 4-for-9 with four doubles, two runs scored, and one RBI in the split 
• Andrew Hardin picked up his second save of the season in the second game, striking out Da'Vonn Stevens to end the two-on, two-out threat in the top of the seventh inning
• Allowing only one run in the second game, that was the fewest runs allowed this season in a game by Post University pitching after allowing 10-plus runs in each of the last two games
• Both of the games on Saturday afternoon marked the first time in which Post University and Cedarville University had faced each other in program history

 
WHO'S NEXT
Post University and Cedarville University close out their four-game series tomorrow, starting at noon with game one, which will be nine innings, followed by a seven-inning affair in game two.