Post University Athletics

CALDWELL, N.J. -- Freshman infielder Haley DiBona doubled in a run, while junior utility player Allysa Calabrese drove in a run as well to start the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament First Round for eighth-seeded Post University Softball on Saturday in their best-of-three series against top-seeded Caldwell University, but that would be all the offense could muster up for the Eagles in the doubleheader. Seeing their season come to a close, Post was swept in two games by the Cougars, 10-2 in six innings, and then 9-0 in five innings, as they end the season with 10 wins, their most since the 2022 season.

THE BASICS

Post University 2, Caldwell University 10 (6 Innings)

Post University 0, Caldwell University 9 (5 Innings)

Post University (10-33)

Caldwell University (27-17)

HOW IT HAPPENED
After going 2-for-3 in game one, sophomore infielder Angelica Tompkins had a shot to break the Division II batting average record for a single season at Post, seeing it rise to .413 heading into the second game. After starting off game two with a walk, Tompkins finished 0-for-2 at the plate, dropping just below the record and finishing her season with a .407 batting average, which is the second highest in the Division II era for the Eagles behind Allyson Wallauer's .413 showing during the 2023 season in 50 games. 

Sophomore catcher Arlette Batista led the game one offense for the Cougars with a 3-for-4 performance, driving in three runs, while junior outfielder Kenzie Nazionale was just as impressive, going 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Nazionale continued her strong performance in game two, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, closing out the two-game sweep with a 5-for-7 day, while Batista was 4-for-5 overall with an RBI, a walk, and four runs scored.

While game one featured the duo of sophomore right-hander Meghan McGurk and Calabrese, they would combine to allow 10 runs, but only four earned in a game where the Post defense committed four errors, which is how many they would also have in game two. The tag team also accounted for 11 hits, one strikeout, six walks, and two wild pitches. Between them and graduate right-hander Katelyn Lipksy in game two, 13 of the 19 runs allowed by the Eagles were unearned, as Lipsky's career closed with her throwing four innings, allowing nine runs (two earned) on nine hits with four walks, three strikeouts, and a hit batter.

Helping to fuel the 10-2 and 9-0 doubleheader sweep for Caldwell were a pair of complete-game performances by their pitching staff in sophomore right-hander Haleigh Fisher and junior right-hander Katie O'Connor. Fisher picked up her 11th win of the year after allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts and a walk in game one, while O'Connor spun five shutout innings in which she allowed just three hits while striking out six and walking three. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Angelica Tompkins finishes the season with a .407 batting average in 41 games played – The all-time Division II record for a single season at Post University will remain at the .413 mark set by Allyson Wallauer in 2023, while the top three batting averages for a single season all were when the institution was part of the NAIA
• As a team today, Post University committed eight combined errors, leading to 13 of the 19 runs scored for Caldwell University being unearned 
• Closing the year with 10 wins, that is the most single-season wins that Post University has had since the 2023 season, when they went 16-34 -- Going 7-11 in conference play gave the Eagles their most conference wins since that season as well, when they were 8-16
• The postseason appearance for Post University was their first since the 2022 season, when they lost to Holy Family University, 6-2, the Eagles also had their highest finish in the division since that season in eighth place