WATERBURY, CT – In the regular season series between the Golden Falcons and Post University, the green-and-gold were considered the underdog after being swept by the Eagles in a three-game series at the end of April/early May. On Saturday morning, Felician baseball ultimately became the top dog and your 2023 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Champions after clinching the game two victory, 7-5, over the regular season champions.

Throughout the tournament, the Golden Falcons were on cruise control as they defeated Bloomfield College in a doubleheader win for the play-in round, to then topple S#1 Seed Wilmington (Del.) and S#2 Seed Goldey-Beacom College for the championship appearance Saturday morning. Post was facing double-elimination coming out of the loser's bracket and in order for the title to be claimed theirs they would have to down Felician twice.

The hosts of the tournament captured the game one victory to dominate the Golden Falcons 10-3, but game two bled green-and-gold for the title: the team's first since 2016.

GAME TWO:

In a winner takes all situation, both squads battled to stay even, 4-4, after three innings. By the top half of the fifth, Felician put on three runs to hold a 7-4 advantage over the Eagles when Chris Fernandez (Boca Raton, FL) slammed a 2 RBI double and stole home on a wild pitch. From there it was a pitching showout.

Both teams remained scoreless until Post created some trouble in the eighth to score one and put two men on base for Wilfrido Valenzuela (Paterson, NJ). When the all-conference pitcher walked his first batter to load the bases with no outs, the southpaw recorded back-to-back strikeouts and a fly out to keep the Felician lead at 2 with one inning left.

In a quick top of the ninth inning, the Golden Falcons were three outs away for the title. With an Eagle in scoring position and the tying run at the plate, Felician came out victorious on a looking strikeout to become the 2023 CACC Champions, 7-5. 

Throughout both games, Fernandez went 4-9 with five RBIs and two runs while Julian Uejima (River Edge, NJ) and Thomas Kendrick (Jackson, NJ) both went 4-8. Logan Waltz (Hazlet, NJ) captured the win with 4.1 IP and three strikeouts with Valenzuela clinching the save with four strikeouts.

From the performances throughout the postseason, Valenzuela is named the 2023 CACC MVP with three appearances and Mike Caldon (Matawan, NJ), Anthony Lamar (Freeport, NY), Waltz, and Fernandez were placed on the All-Tournament Team.

Today's win punches Felician's ticket to the NCAA regional event with the selection show happening tomorrow night. Stay Tuned!!