WATERBURY, Conn. – From lots of offense in game one, to a duel at Municipal Stadium in game two, Wednesday afternoon's doubleheader had a bit of everything for Post University Baseball, as they split with Felician University at home, bouncing back from a 17-10 loss in game one via a walk-off walk issued to junior outfielder Kevan Diaz in game two, which went the way of the Eagles, 2-1. 

THE BASICS

Post University 10, Felician University 17
 
Post University 2, Felician University 1 (7 Innings)
 
Post University (18-18, 12-8 CACC)
 
Felician University (19-16, 10-10 CACC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Post University 10, Felician University 17
In a game that had 27 combined runs, it was only the third head-to-head matchup in 55 games overall in which both teams finished with double-digit runs scored. It was the second-highest head-to-head matchup, scoring-wise, behind only a 19-12 victory on April 18th, 2004, on the road for the Eagles.

Through the first five innings, a combined six runs were scored, leading to a 3-3 tie, as senior catcher Manny Contreras' RBI single was the only base hit that the Eagles had, which scored a run to that point. Senior outfielder Rocko Brzezniak singled in two runs off of freshman right-hander Jacob Schrage, who only lasted three innings, allowing three runs on three hits with six walks, three strikeouts, and two wild pitches.

The outing for junior right-hander Max Weber also led to a no-decision as he went four innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits with eight strikeouts, four walks, three wild pitches, and one hit batter. After dominating for four innings, sophomore right-hander Logan Pulitano exited with two outs in the eighth with Post trailing, 4-3, after a sacrifice fly from junior outfielder Brandon Petrick.
Felician's offense pushed across three more runs, which were charged to freshman right-hander Andrew Hardin, leading 7-3, which would hold into the ninth inning. That final inning would prove to be one of the longest as the two teams combined for 17 total runs, leading to that 17-10 final, after the Golden Falcons put up 10 runs in the top of the frame.

Senior right-hander Michael Fletcher Jr. appeared in his first collegiate game as an Eagle, getting the final out of the ninth, facing two batters, as he hit one to start off his first-ever appearance on the bump. Of the six pinch hitters that Post had in the ninth, five of them recorded hits, as they answered with seven runs.

Game 2: Post University 2, Felician University 1 (7 Innings)
It was a pitcher's duel between junior right-hander Sebastian Velasquez and freshman left-hander Chris Laieta as each allowed just one run in the second inning to start the affair. For the Golden Falcons, their run would come in an interesting fashion as a diving catch from Diaz with runners on second and third caused Brzezniak to score via sacrifice fly, but miscommunication on whether the ball was caught or not caused sophomore infielder Braden Walsh to get thrown out at second as he scored thinking the ball had hit the ground. 

In response, Post would get them run back as it was freshman infielder Andrew Rhymestine, who caught the second game behind the plate for Velasquez, doubling home Diaz for what would end up being the last run for either team until the Eagles walked it off in the seventh. Despite numerous chances from both sides to score, which saw the junior escape a first and second jam with nobody out in the sixth, followed by Diaz making a diving third out in the seventh against Walsh with a runner on second, the score remained tied at one.

But sophomore right-hander Andrew Gendi's appearance would unravel quickly in the bottom of the frame as he allowed a single to graduate outfielder Andrew Hartman, who was pinch-run for by sophomore infielder Rene Vega III. Vega III ended up on second after junior infielder Jesse Alfalla laid down a pinch-hit sacrifice bunt, and suddenly, a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases with only one out for Diaz. The junior fouled off the first pitch of his at-bat before taking four straight balls from Gendi with the bases loaded, ending the game with a walk-off walk in a 2-1 win for the Eagles.

As for Velasquez, he earned his third win of the season on the mound, throwing a complete game in which he allowed just one run on five hits with four strikeouts, a wild pitch, and a balk, all on just 92 pitches. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• The four-hour, 10-minute game one affair was the longest home game since the 2021 season, when Post University lost to Bloomfield College, 17-8, in a four-hour, 50-minute single game on April 6th, 2021
• Evan Cornwell finished today's doubleheader with one hit, moving his career total to 171 hits –  Cornwell is 22 hits away from tying Dan Luisi for the most hits in program history at Post University 
• Andrew Hartman extended his on-base streak to 26 consecutive games, walking twice in the first game, followed by a first-inning walk in game two -- The last time Hartman failed to reach base safely was against Cedarville University on February 28th
• The 17-10 loss in game one marked only the third time in the all-time series in which both teams scored 10-plus runs in an affair – Two of those three games came at Municipal Stadium, with the last one coming on April 13th, 2019, in a 16-10 loss for Post University, while the highest scoring one was a 19-12 victory on April 18th, 2004 on the road

  
WHO'S NEXT
Post University kicks off a three-game stretch against Wilmington University this weekend on Saturday when they face the Wildcats in a doubleheader on the road starting at 12:00 PM. Last season, the Eagles were swept in their two games against Wilmington, 19-14 and 14-12, and have lost four in a row overall against them.