Box Scores
Queens - W 6-4
West Liberty - W 6-4

CATAWBA, N.C. – Senior outfielders Jamie Mingis and Alicea Ashe provided the game-winning hits as East Stroudsburg University rallied to post 6-4 wins over Queens (N.C.) and West Liberty (W.V.) to open the 2011 softball season on Friday at the Catawba Invitational.

Mingis belted a two-run homer in the sixth inning to give the Warriors the lead against Queens, and Ashe hit a two-run double as ESU scored four runs with two outs in the fifth inning against West Liberty to complete the day.

Senior Caitlin Monahan and freshman Laura Suits threw complete games in the circle. Monahan held Queens to seven hits and struck out three in the opener, while Suits gave up five hits, struck out four and stranded 10 runners on base in her debut for the Warriors.

ESU had 22 hits on the day, 12 against Queens and 10 against West Liberty, and Mingis was 4-for-6 with a pair of multi-hit games. The senior, entering her fourth year as a starter, was 2-for-4 and scored two runs in the first game and 2-for-2 with a walk in game two.

The Warriors rallied twice against Queens, which led 2-1 through four innings. ESU scored three runs in the top of the fifth, keyed by a two-run triple by freshman Rebecca Smith that scored junior Samantha Capriotti, who pinch ran for Monahan, and Mingis, who reached on a single. Junior 3B Rachel Gieringer drove in Smith with a single to give ESU a 4-2 lead.

Mingis came through with her third career home run after Queens tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth. Junior SS Pam Sellers, who was 3-for-4 with two doubles, opened the inning with a double and Mingis homered two batters later to put the Warriors back in front.

Queens managed a one-out single in the sixth but didn't score, and Monahan retired the side in order in the seventh to finish the game.

The four-run fifth inning was the key frame against West Liberty as the Hilltoppers scored twice in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. Mingis and Smith had base hits to set up the inning, but two fielders' choices gave ESU runners on first and second with two outs.

Ashe (2-for-4, 4 RBI) gave the Warriors the lead with her second double of the game and Capriotti followed with a double to make the score 5-3. Capriotti advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored when Sellers reached on an error to give ESU a three-run lead.

West Liberty pushed one run across in the sixth to get within 6-4 but left the tying run on base, and Suits pitched around a leadoff double in the seventh for her first career win.

Eight Warriors had multi-hit games on the day, including five vs. Queens. Racek was 2-for-4, Gieringer was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, Sellers went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI, Monahan was 2-for-4 and Mingis was 2-for-4 with two runs and her two-run homer.

In the second game, Smith was 2-for-3 with a double and a run, Ashe went 2-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI, Capriotti was 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run and Mingis was 2-for-2.

Racek's two hits give her 128 for her career, moving into a tie for 10th in school history. A two-time All-PSAC East selection, Racek entered the season with a .341 career batting average and is in ESU's career top 10 in 11 offensive categories.

ESU is back on the field at 10 a.m. on Saturday against Glenville State (W.V.), and takes on Tiffin (Ohio) at 4 p.m.