Baseball

Baseball Wins Ninth Game In A Row, With Sweep Of Chestnut Hill

May 4, 2008

WATERBURY, Conn.-The Post University baseball team stretched its winning streak to nine games, with a Central Atlantic Collegiate (CACC) doubleheader sweep of Chestnut Hill, Sunday afternoon at Municipal Stadium. Post won the first game, 8-5, and came back from a 2-0 hole, with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, to take the nightcap 3-2.

The Eagles improve to 24-22 overall and 15-10 in the CACC, while Chestnut Hill falls to 7-34 overall and 5-22 in the CACC. The Eagles set a new school-record for wins in a season, surpassing the 2004 team. In addition, the Eagles have won 13 of its last 14 games dating back to April 19.

The Eagles took advantage of five walks in the bottom of the first inning, sending 10 batters to the plate, to take a 4-0 lead. After two straight walks loaded the bases, junior Johnny Figueroa (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) walked scoring junior Dan Luisi (Bethpage, N.Y./Holy Trinity), who reached on a fielding error by the Chestnut Hill second baseman, to lead-off the game. The next batter, junior Joe Proscia (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian), lofted a sacrifice-fly, to knock in junior Corey Huffine (Colorado Springs, Colo./McCook C.C.).

Then with runners on second and third, junior Jim Conto (W. Hempstead, N.Y./Holy Trinity) roped a double to the warning track in right centerfield, to plate senior Eric Rovinetti (Watertown, Conn./Southern Connecticut State Univ.) and Figueroa.

Chestnut Hill got on the board in the top of the second inning, with a sacrifice-fly from Mark Tedesco. But, Post would tack on another run in the home half of the second, when Proscia had an RBI-ground out, to plate Rovinetti from third. The Griffins scored three runs in the top of the third, highlighted by a two-run triple from Bryan Henery.

The Eagles added to the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, as with one out, sophomore Jose Reyes (Yonkers, N.Y./Roosevelt) ripped a shot that went off the pitcher's foot, for an infield single. He then stole second and after moving over to third, came home, when Luisi poked a single to the gap in right centerfield. Huffine followed with a base hit, and Rovinetti put the Eagles ahead 8-4 with a two-run double to right centerfield.

The Griffins added one more run in the top of the ninth inning.

Rovinetti went 2-for-2 with his ninth double of the season, two runs batted in, and two runs scored for the Eagles in the first game. Reyes went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Despite going 0-for-2, Proscia drove in two runners, and Conto knocked in a pair, with his fourth double of the season. Huffine went 1-for-3 with two runs scored, and Luisi scored twice as well.

Sophomore Tim McCarthy (Waterbury, Conn./Kennedy) picked up his fifth win of the season, despite getting touched for five runs on seven hits and one walk. McCarthy (5-3) struck out two, and in his last six games improves to 4-0 with two saves.

The nightcap started out as an ole fashion pitcher's dual, as both Post starter senior Curtis Anthony (Torrington, Conn./Torrington) and Chestnut Hill's Chris Lauber kept the opposition off the board.

The Griffins finally broke the ice in the top of the fifth inning, when D.J. Santoro and Dan Etherton had back-to-back RBI doubles, giving Chestnut Hill a 2-0 lead.

It would stay that way until the bottom of the sixth, when Rovinetti drew a one-out walk and Figueroa singled to right centerfield. Figueroa stole second base, and the throw from the catcher sailed into centerfield, which allowed both Rovinetti and Figueroa to score, knotting the game at 2-2.

Conto then singled, and after Proscia struck out, senior Chris Ouellette (Uncasville, Conn./Montville) walked to keep the threat going. The runners would move up on a wild pitch, and miscue by the Chestnut Hill second baseman, on a ball hit by Reyes, scored Conto for the game-winning run.

Anthony retired the side in order in the top of the seventh, to earn his third win of the season. The senior, struck out seven batters and gave up no walks in seven innings of work.

Conto went 1-for-1 with a run scored, and was hit by a pitch for a team-leading 17^th time this season. Figueroa went 1-for-2 with a run scored, and Huffine went 1-for-3 in the nightcap.

Between games the Eagles recognized their four seniors who earned their degrees on Saturday, during Commencement. Anthony, Ouellette, Matt Mehlhouse, and Rovinetti, along with members of their families were honored for their years of service to the Post University baseball program.

The Eagles will close out the regular season on Monday afternoon, as they host Philadelphia University in a pair of CACC games. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.