WATERBURY, Conn. – Entering the day, sophomore right-hander Meghan McGurk held a 14.94 ERA this season for Post University Softball and had not lasted more than four innings in a start, while not having a win in the circle in 10 career starts. That all changed in a big way on Monday afternoon at LaMoy Field as McGurk made program history, becoming the first Eagle to throw a no-hitter in the Division II era of Post University, shutting down Chestnut Hill College in a 7-0 game one victory, which was followed up by a five-inning mercy rule win for the Eagles in game two, 11-2, to complete the sweep. 

The right-hander threw 99 pitches, allowing just four baserunners to reach via three walks and a hit batter, while striking out a career-high eight batters in her masterpiece performance. In all, McGurk induced four fly outs and nine ground outs, with none being more nerve-wracking than the final out of the game, which freshman infielder Haley DiBona threw over to first to seal the no-hitter for her. 

THE BASICS

Post University 7, Chestnut Hill College 0

Post University 11, Chestnut Hill College 2 (5 Innings)

Post University (5-16, 3-1 CACC)

Chestnut Hill College (4-12, 0-4 CACC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1: Post University 7, Chestnut Hill College 0
As the game wore on, the biggest question mark would be if McGurk would have a chance for a full seven-inning no-hitter, as the Eagles led 3-0 early on a bases-clearing double from junior utility player Allysa Calabrese in the first inning off sophomore pitcher Belle Tetreault, before the bats went quiet. 

As McGurk worked through mowing down the Chestnut Hill hitters, Post was on the verge of a mercy rule win in the sixth inning as the bats came to life with three consecutive hits to start the frame, leading to two runs from sophomore outfielder Hannah Searles' double with nobody out. After Tetreault came back to retire the next two hitters, a walk to DiBona and a single by freshman first baseman Bailey Ruel put runners on second and third with two outs in a 6-0 game. 

A hard liner by sophomore infielder Angelica Tompkins would end up staying on the infield and scoring another run for the Eagles, before Calabrese popped up on the infield, forcing the game to the seventh inning. Throwing just seven pitches in the last inning, McGurk got freshman infielder Pearl McKay to ground out, followed by her eighth strikeout of the game against freshman first baseman Madison Band, bringing her one out away from history. She would get freshman outfielder Mikayla Pengelly to ground to DiBona, who fired over to sophomore first baseman Alexandra Bisceglia for the final out, sealing McGurk's place in the history books. 

Game 2: Post University 11, Chestnut Hill College 2 (5 Innings)
The bats continued to stay hot in game two as it was a bit of deja vu for the Eagles offensively, scoring three runs on a bases-clearing triple from Calabrese in the first, while graduate right-hander Katelyn Lipsky threw two no-hit innings to start the affair. However, that would all change in the third as junior third baseman Jenn Pokropinski singled, giving the Griffins their first hit in 10 innings against Post on Monday and eventually snapping the scoring drought.

Two runs would come across the plate for Chestnut Hill, their only two runs of the game, on a single from McKay and from a bases-loaded walk issued by Lipsky, who came back to get Band to line out and end the inning. Picking up her fourth win of the season in the circle, Lipsky threw the full five innings required for the Eagles to notch the mercy rule victory, 11-2, allowing only those two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and a walk. All four of the hits that Lipsky allowed, along with that one walk, came in the third inning, as she set down the Griffins in order in the other four innings she pitched. 

Post's offense jumped all over junior pitcher Rebecca Cessna for nine runs, four of which were earned, on five hits in just 2 1/3 innings, while she struck out three, walked three, and threw a wild pitch in her fifth loss of the year. Freshman utility player Tatiana Martinez drove in a couple of runs in the victory, while seven different Eagles recorded at least one run batted in. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Meghan McGurk threw the first no-hitter in Post University history at the Division II level, striking out eight batters, a new career-high, while walking three and hitting one in the victory, which was also her first collegiate win on the mound
• Allysa Calabrese led Post University's offense with six RBIs, going 2-for-6 on the day with a double and triple -- Calabrese is now riding a five-game hitting streak
• Katelyn Lipsky won her third consecutive start after throwing a five-inning complete game in which she allowed two runs on four hits in game two, with four strikeouts and a walk 
• With the sweep, Post University ties its win total from last year with five and earns its first doubleheader sweep since April 10th last year, when they swept Bloomfield College at home -- The Eagles had not won three games in a row since March 27th, 2023, until March 29th, 2023, in a season where they went 16-34

 
WHO'S NEXT
Having a quick turnaround, Post University hits the field for the third straight day, taking on Caldwell University in New Jersey tomorrow afternoon, starting at 2:30 PM in another doubleheader. The Eagles have lost seven in a row against the Cougars dating back to the 2022 season.