Baseball

March 13, 2008

BOCA RATON, Fla.-The Post University baseball team scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning, and received a solid pitching performance from sophomore RHP Richie Pierro, as the Eagles defeated St. Thomas Aquinas College, 4-2, on Thursday morning at the McCusker Sports Complex, on the campus of Lynn University.

With the win the Eagles improve to 4-9 overall and 3-5 on their spring break trip to Florida. The loss drops STAC to 7-6 overall. In addition, the Eagles improve to 1-1 when using wood bats, as they did this morning for the second day in a row. The Northeast Region made the switch to wood bats this season.

Pierro (1-1) was touched for only one run on five hits and one walk in five and one-third innings of work. He struck out four batters on the afternoon. The sophomore did receive some solid defensive plays behind him, as in the second inning, Ramon Cueto singled to left, Fernando Peralta attempted to score from second base, but senior left fielder Curtis Anthony nailed him from left field to end the rally.

Then in the top of the third inning, STAC leadoff hitter was gunned down by junior right fielder Donnie Dlabola to end the inning.

Post finally broke the ice in the top of the fourth, as junior second baseman Dan Luisi scored on a wild pitch with the bases loaded, after drawing a leadoff walk. Anthony then helped the cause with his bat, as he ripped a single up the middle to plate junior DH Corey Huffine, who reached on a bunt single, and Dlabola, who walked. Anthony would score on a wild pitch to give the Eagles a 4-0 lead.

STAC would get on the board in the fifth inning, as Peralta would score on a wild pitch.

The Eagles would turn the ball over to junior LHP Brendan Wyman, who pitched 3.2 innings, picking up his first save of the season. Wyman scattered one run on three hits and two walks, while striking out four.

Huffine led the Eagles at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Anthony was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and a run scored. Freshman Garret Keenan made his first career start at third base and went 2-for-3 with a walk.

Junior first baseman Jim Conto had his eight-game hitting streak snapped. During the streak, he was 11-of-24 (.458) with two doubles, three runs scored, and three runs batted in. On Thursday, Conto was 0-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch. He has reached base in 10 straight games.

The Eagles will continue their stay in Florida on Friday afternoon, as they face Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) foe Chestnut Hill College in a non-conference game at the Bob Gladwin Baseball Complex in Fort Pierce, Fla.