Baseball

Baseball Completes CACC Sweep Of USP

April 20, 2008

WATERBURY, Conn.-The Post University baseball team received a solid pitching performance from sophomore Michael Wolfe (Ringwood, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) and three hits from senior Eric Rovinetti (Watertown, Conn./Southern Connecticut State Univ.) in the nightcap, to take a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) doubleheader from University of the Sciences, Sunday afternoon at Municipal Stadium. The Eagles won the first game 2-0, and came back to take the back end, 6-4.

The Eagles (14-21, 6-9 CACC) have won three games in a row, including the 6-5 win on Saturday afternoon over USP, for the second time this season, matching a string from April 6-10, in which they defeated Caldwell (10-3), Nyack (2-1), and New Haven (8-7).

In the first game, Wolfe (4-3) pitched a complete-game seven-inning shutout, while allowing just three hits and two walks on the afternoon. He struck out six batters, and retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced, to record his fourth win of the season.

Post took an early 1-0 lead, with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Junior second baseman Dan Luisi (Bethpage, N.Y./Holy Trinity) led-off the game with a double down the right field line. Then after going to third on a groundout, he came home when Rovinetti grounded out to the second baseman.

The Eagles added their second run in the bottom of the third inning. Rovinetti laced a single to right, that brought Luisi home from third. The Post second baseman, singled stole second, and went to third on a wild pitch, before scoring on the base hit from Rovinetti.

Luisi went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored in the first game. He also recorded his 11^th stolen base of the season. Rovinetti went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in.

Post once again scored the first run of the game in the nightcap, as junior third baseman Corey Huffine (Colorado Springs, Colo./McCook C.C.) scored on a passed ball by the USP catcher.

USP tied it in the top of the second inning, as Philip Maher drew a leadoff walk, went to third on a single, and would score on a sacrifice-fly from Mark Forbes.

The Eagles broke the tie in the bottom of the third inning, with a two-out rally loading the bases. Rovinetti began the rally with a single to right, then junior Johnny Figueroa (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) singled to left, and junior first baseman Jim Conto (W. Hempstead, N.Y./Holy Trinity) reached on an error by the USP shortstop. That brought junior Joe Proscia (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) to the plate, and he drew a walk to score Rovinetti and give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.

Post tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, and loaded the bases for the second inning in a row. Sophomore Jose Reyes (Yonkers, N.Y./Roosevelt) had a bunt single, and came home on a hit to the gap in left centerfield by Huffine. With the bases loaded, Conto sliced a single to right, to plate Huffine and Luisi, and giving the Eagles a 5-1 lead.

Maher added an RBI-single in the top of the fifth inning, for USP. With runners on first and second, Maher drove a pitch to left field, which scored Pete McCauley, who reached on a fielder's choice.

The Eagles added one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning, as with one-out and a runner on first Figueroa smacked a triple down the right field line to knock in Rovinetti.

USP added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning, to make it 6-4, in favor of the Eagles. After a double by McCauley, Maher reached on a fielding error, which scored McCauley. Then Mark Perry singled in Maher for the final run of the game.

Rovinetti went 3-for-3 for the Eagles in the nightcap, and scored a pair of runs as well. Reyes went 2-for-2 with a run scored, and Figueroa went 2-for-4 with a run batted in. Conto went 1-for-4 with two RBI, and Huffine went 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Junior Ben Schoenberg (Sugarland, Texas/Cedar Valley C.C.) won his fourth game of the season, which ties Wolfe for the team lead. Schoenberg (4-1) was touched for four runs, two earned on six hits and two walks. He also had two strikeouts. Sophomore Tim McCarthy (Waterbury, Conn./Kennedy) pitched two-thirds of an inning to get his second save of the season.

The Eagles will continue the homestand on Tuesday afternoon, as in-state rival, the University of Bridgeport comes to Municipal Stadium for a non-conference game. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.