Box Scores
Game 1 - W 10-4
Game 2 - L 8-5

EAST STROUDSBURG – Junior Brian Ernst struck out eight in 5.2 innings in a 10-4 win in the opener, becoming the second player in East Stroudsburg University history with 100 strikeouts and 100 hits in a career, and extended his hitting streak to 17 games as ESU and Millersville split the first half of this weekend's PSAC East baseball series on Friday.

Millersville won the second game, 8-5, behind a six-run third inning to earn the split as the series goes to Millersville on Saturday. Both schools are among six in the PSAC's Eastern division who are battling for four playoff spots with one more weekend of conference action remaining.

Ernst's hitting streak is the longest at ESU in at least 10 years, as he doubled in the opener and had two singles in game two. He finished the day with 104 strikeouts and 150 hits in his career, joining Tim Bishop (1983-86, 134 hits, 144 strikeouts) as Warriors to hit the century mark in both categories.

Senior SS Evan Gallagher and senior 2B Ryan Guarino both extended their hitting streaks to 12 games each. Freshman 3B Robert Patete, last week's PSAC East Player of the Week, was 5-for-8 with five RBI and pushed his hitting streak to nine games.

In the opener, sophomore 1B Mark Romano had a two-RBI double in a three-run first, Patete had a three-RBI double in a four-run second and redshirt freshman OF Andy Brandstetter had a two-RBI double in a three-run fifth to provide the offense.

ESU knocked out Millersville ace Brooks Rothschild with one out in the second inning as he was charged with eight hits and seven runs. Ernst gave up four runs on eight hits while fanning eight to improve to 5-1 on the season and 11-4 in his career.

Patete hit a two-run homer, his second of the season, to get ESU within 8-4 in the third inning of the second game but the Marauders held on. The Warriors added another run in the fourth to get it to 8-5, but neither team scored over the final three innings.

Junior left-hander Mike Glassic pitched the final 4.0 innings for ESU, blanking the Marauders on four hits and striking out eight, but it was too late as they scored two in the first and added six in the third, including four before the Warriors recorded an out.

ESU had 25 hits in the doubleheader, including 14 in the opener. Junior OF Zac Menendez was 3-for-3 with a sacrifice fly at the top of the order and the 4-5-6 hitters – Patete (2-for-4, 3 RBI, run), sophomore OF Chris Knott (2-for-3, RBI, run) and Romano (2-for-3, 2 RBI, run) – were 6-for-10 with six of ESU's 10 RBI.

Brandstetter was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs in the No. 9 spot, including a bunt single to spark the four-run second and his two-run double in the fifth. Brandstetter was also 2-for-3 in the second game with a double and a bunt single.

In game two, Ernst was 2-for-4, Patete was 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs and Brandstetter had his second straight two-hit game.

Millersville had 13 hits off three ESU pitchers in game two, all by the first six batters in the lineup. Kurt Seiders and Chris Edgar, the No. 5 and No. 6 hitters, had three hits each.

Sophomore Tad Barton got the win in game two, giving up five runs (four earned) on nine hits in 6.0 innings. Tyler Horst pitched a scoreless seventh inning after giving up a pair of one-out hits to secure his fifth save of the season.

PSAC STANDINGS through April 20
West Chester - 28-7 (12-6)
Kutztown - 27-13 (10-8)
Shippensburg - 24-18 (10-8)
Bloomsburg - 22-16 (11-9)
Millersville - 23-20 (11-11)
ESU - 24-16 (8-10)
Mansfield - 12-31 (4-14)