Box Scores - W 11-1 / W 8-0

EAST STROUDSBURG - Freshman SS Brandi Stettler hit bases-clearing doubles in both games of a doubleheader as East Stroudsburg University defeated Columbia Union, 11-1 and 8-0, in its 2009 home softball opener at Zimbar Field on Monday afternoon.

In the first game, the Warriors (12-7) led off with five runs in the first inning, aided by the first of Stettler's two doubles. ESU tacked on five more runs in the second, highlighted by a three-run home run by senior C Amanda Feist. The homer was her fourth of the season and the 11th of her career at ESU, tying her for third in school history.

Columbia Union (2-10) scored its lone run on an RBI single by Christina Smith in the top of the third inning. The Warriors came back with a run in the bottom half of the inning and junior Jackie Battaglino finished off the Pioneers in the fifth to end the game due to the eight-run rule.

Battaglino improved to 6-3 on the year, striking out five and allowing four hits in the complete game. Feist and Stettler combined to go 2-for-6 with six RBI and two runs scored.

In the second game, senior Jennifer Bensinger tossed a three-hitter with 11 strikeouts to improve to 6-3. She gave up one hit through the first four innings before getting out of a bases loaded situation in the fifth inning to seal her second shutout of the season.

A bases loaded double by Stettler was once again the key hit in a five-run first inning that was started by a one-out triple by sophomore OF Jamie Mingis. The Warriors added three runs in the fourth, coming on RBI hits by junior OF Kara Darcey, Feist, and senior 3B Kerri Jakobsen.

ESU is back in action again on Friday as they travel to Kutztown for a doubleheader against Golden Bears.