Box Scores
W 14-4 / W 8-3
PETERSBURG, Va. - Seniors Mark Angelo, Chris Zsenak and Kevin Thompson powered the offense as East Stroudsburg University swept Virginia State, 14-4 and 8-3, on Sunday to take all three games of the series to open the 2009 baseball season.
Three ESU pitchers combined on a 6-0, one-hit shutout on Saturday and gave up just 11 hits in 23 innings for the weekend. Junior Jeremy Gigliotti was the winning pitcher in the 14-4 win, striking out six in three innings of work, and freshman Andy Noga was credited with win in the second game.
The Warriors' bats started quickly in both games on Sunday, taking a 12-0 lead through three innings in the first game and a 7-2 advantage through two frames in the nightcap.
In the opener, Thompson had a two-run single in the first inning, Zsenak hit his seventh career home run to highlight a five-run second, and Thompson picked up another RBI single as the Warriors sent five more runs across in the third.
Three freshmen, Ryan Guarino, Chad Jacobson and Brandon Snyder, each picked up their first career hits. Jacobson tossed a hitless seventh inning as well, and Paul Glenn threw three innings and gave up one earned run.
Angelo went 2-for-3 and Zsenak was 2-for-3 with a two-run triple in the second game. Thompson reached base three times, on a walk and two hit by pitches, giving him 19 for his career, fourth in school history.
Noga gave up two runs in two innings in his first career start and senior Bill Hezel struck out three and allowed one run in his two-inning stint. Sophomore Tom Admire threw two scoreless frames and junior Anthony Clemens struck out three and pitched around a couple of walks in the seventh.
Angelo, a graduate student who was All-Patriot League last year at Bucknell, was 4-for-7 with three doubles and scored six runs in his first three games at ESU. He walked in all three of his plate appearances in the first game on Sunday.
Zsenak was 4-for-9 with four RBI and three runs, and Thompson went 4-for-6 with two doubles and four RBI and reached base seven times.
The Warriors will head back to Virginia this week as they play in the Builders Classic at the Apprentice School in Newport News. PSAC opponents Kutztown, Bloomsburg and Lock Haven are all on the schedule for next weekend.
