WATERBURY – The baseball team moved to 10-23 overall and 6-9 in CACC play Monday afternoon, as they earned a split with conference rival Post University in their final road doubleheader of the 2011 CACC schedule.
In the opener, the Deacons surrendered an unearned run in the bottom of the first to fall behind 1-0. But it would prove to be all the offense the Eagles could muster against senior southpaw Sean Stimpfel, who struck out eight hitters over seven innings of work in his best start of the season.
Bloomfield was able to knot the score at one in the top of the fifth, when junior first baseman Rafael Medina smacked a double down the left field line to score Joe Meola with one out. The Deacons would take a slim 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh, when Alberto Ruiz slapped a two-out RBI double just inside the right field line to put Bloomfield on top. The Eagles threatened in the bottom half of the inning, but Stimpfel worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam, inducing a groundout to end the frame and keep the visitors in front.
The Deacons would carry the momentum into the top of the eighth, notching three runs to widen the gap to 5-1. Emilio Fernandez plated a pair of runs on a fielder's choice, and Luis Buron added the fifth run with an RBI single to give Bloomfield a comfortable advantage. Rafael Cruz tossed two innings of shutout ball to close out the win, giving Stimpfel his second victory of the season.
The Deacons took a 1-0 lead in Game Two on a Buron RBI single in the top of the first, but the Eagles would counter with a five-run second inning to put Bloomfield down four. Junior righty Eric Kamp relieved Steve Godowski and went the rest of the way, surrendering two earned runs over six innings of work. But Post would total five unearned runs in the nightcap to total eight in all, the Deacons unable to erase the deficit and earn a series sweep. An Allen Rivera sacrifice fly in the fifth plated Bloomfield's second run to round out the 8-2 decision.
“A split keeps our playoff hopes alive, so we accomplished what we set out to do today,” Deacons head coach Jeff Watson said. “We'll head into Wednesday's doubleheader needing to win both games to stay alive, so hopefully we're up to the task.”
Bloomfield returns to action Wednesday, April 20 with a home doubleheader against CACC foe Nyack College at Westside Park. First pitch for the opener is scheduled for Noon.
