Baseball

March 25, 2008

WATERBURY, Conn.-Junior LHP Brendan Wyman (Manchester, Conn./East Catholic) tossed a complete-game four-hit shutout, as the Post University baseball team defeated Caldwell College, in the first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) game of the season, Tuesday afternoon at Municipal Stadium.

With the win in the home opener, the Eagles improve to 6-11 overall and 1-0 in the CACC, while Caldwell falls to 5-8 overall and 0-1 in the CACC.

Wyman (1-2) faced the minimum through the first three innings, while giving up just four hits and two walks, and striking out six batters. At one point, the East Catholic graduate, retired 16-of-17 batters he faced.

Caldwell starter Robert Casal was equal to the task, as he retired nine of the first 11 batters he faced. Casal (2-3) gave up three runs, two earned on five hits and five walks. He recorded 11 strikeouts in six and one-third innings.

Post would finally get to Casal in the bottom of the fourth inning, as junior first baseman Jim Conto (W. Hempstead, N.Y./Holy Trinity) singled to knock it senior DH Eric Rovinetti (Watertown, Conn./Southern Connecticut State Univ.), who led off the inning with an infield single to short. The Eagles would add the second run of the afternoon, off of a double-steal, that brought senior left fielder Curtis Anthony (Torrington, Conn./Torrington) home from third. Anthony singled to left centerfield, after Rovinetti's leadoff hit.

The Eagles would tack on another run in the bottom of the seventh inning, as junior third baseman Corey Huffine (Colorado Springs, Colo./McCook C.C.) knocked in sophomore shortstop Jose Reyes (Yonkers, N.Y./Roosevelt), with a single to centerfield. Reyes, drew a walk, then went to second on a passed ball, and later advanced to third on a throwing error, by the Caldwell catcher.

Caldwell would threaten in the top of the eighth inning, with a Raymond Keelan single to left centerfield, and a Chris Chiarappa walk, putting runners on first and second with nobody out. However, pinch hitter Jon Irwin grounded into a double-play, that featured nifty plays from Reyes, junior second baseman Dan Luisi (Bethpage, N.Y./Holy Trinity), and Conto at first, to end the threat.

The top six hitters in the lineup each had a hit for the Eagles on the afternoon. Rovinetti was 1-for-2 with a run scored and two walks. Luisi also stole his fifth base of the season, for the Eagles.

The two teams will meet again in a doubleheader on April 6, at Caldwell. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m.

The Eagles will return to the diamond on Wednesday afternoon, as they host Albertus Magnus College in a non-conference game at Municipal Stadium. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. In addition, the series against St. Michael's College, slated for Friday and Saturday has been cancelled, and will not be made up.