Box Scores
Game 1 - W 13-7
Game 2 - W 18-7

MURFREESBORO, N.C. - Redshirt senior first baseman Matt Walewski was 5-for-8 with a double, two home runs, eight RBI and seven runs, including a grand slam in game two, as East Stroudsburg University opened its 2016 baseball season with two wins (13-7, 18-7) at Chowan on Saturday in North Carolina.

The Warriors (2-0), listed No. 4 in this week's NCBWA Atlantic Region rankings, compiled 31 runs on 32 hits (.438 average) after ranking 12th in DII in batting average (.337) during the 2015 season, which ended as PSAC runner-up.

ESU got a pair of impressive starting pitching performances from redshirt senior Matt Festa (5.0 IP, 0 runs, 3 hits, 7 strikeouts, 3 walks) in the opener, and junior Ian Allen (4.0 IP, 1 run, 4 hits, 9 strikeouts, 0 walks) in game two.

Festa improved to 13-5 in his career and has led ESU in innings pitched in both of the last two seasons.

Allen, named third team preseason All-America as a utility player by the NCBWA, moves his career record to 8-2 after going 5-2 last season.

Ten Warriors had at least two hits led by Walewski, who was 4-for-5 with a double, home run, three RBI and four runs in the opener.

Allen was 4-for-9 with two triples, three RBI and four runs in the doubleheader.

Posting three hits each were sophomore OF Christian Rishel (3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 runs), redshirt junior SS Conner Crookham (3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 runs, 2 walks), sophomore catcher Steven Zimmerman, Jr. (3-for-6, RBI, 3 runs, 2 walks), redshirt senior 3B Drew Hercik (3-for-7, HR, 2 RBI, 4 runs, 2 walks), redshirt junior OF Robert Bennie (3-for-7, 2B, HR, RBI, 4 runs, 2 walks, HBP) and redshirt junior OF Casey Saverio (3-for-8, 3 RBI, 2 runs, walk).

Senior 1B Dylan Tamecki was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI, 2 runs and a walk and redshirt junior 2B Jay Young was 2-for-5 with a double, 4 RBI, 2 runs and a walk. Tamecki and Young were both named to the NCBWA preseason All-Region second team in January.

Bennie opened the Warriors' season with a leadoff home run, and ESU scored 13 of its 31 runs in the first inning - five in the opener and eight in the nightcap.

ESU led 11-0 through five innings of game 1 and 17-0 through three innings of game 2.

Hercik and Rishel both hit two-run homers in the first inning of game two, followed by a two-run single by Young and two-run triple by Allen.

The Warriors led 15-0 after two innings, plating seven in the second on a Crookham double, RBI singles by Zimmerman and Allen and Walewski's grand slam.

Hercik had his 10th career home run, Rishel his third and Walewski his third and fourth. Bennie, a transfer from DI Virginia (2013-14) and the brother of former ESU All-Region second baseman Joe Bennie (2013 MLB Draft pick), homered in his first career at bat for the Warriors.

ESU completes the season-opening series on Sunday at 12 p.m.