Box Scores
W 7-6
W 12-4 (6 inn.)

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EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University rallied for a 7-6, walk-off win with two runs in the seventh in the opener, then scored nine runs on nine hits in the first inning of a 12-4 (6 inn.) win in game two as the Warriors swept a PSAC East softball doubleheader against Millersville on Sunday at Zimbar Field.

ESU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opener before coming back from a 6-3 deficit, scoring the tying run on a base hit by senior OF Jennifer Denaro and plating the winning run as sophomore SS Cara Woods reached on a fielders choice.

In the second game, the Warriors sent 14 batters to the plate in the first inning, with the first five and seven of the first eight belting out singles to break the game open early. After Millersville made it 9-4 in the fourth, ESU scored two in the fifth and one in the sixth to end the afternoon early.

The sweep gives ESU a 3-1 series victory over Millersville, as the two schools split in their conference openers at Millersville on March 29.

The Warriors (17-14, 4-6) moved into a tie with West Chester for third in the PSAC East with six conference games remaining, which will be played in a five-day stretch from April 23-27.

ESU had 29 hits on the day, including 27 singles, in scoring 19 runs in the doubleheader. The Warriors hit .460, led by sophomore 1B Cara McNeil (5-7, 2 RBI, 2 runs), freshman OF Sierra Wagner (4-7, 2 RBI, 3 runs), junior C Rebecca Smith (4-8, double, 2 RBI, 4 runs), Woods (4-8, 2 RBI, 2 runs) and freshman 3B Kellie Mignoli (3-7, 4 RBI, run), who all hit safely in at least half of their at bats.

Freshman Amanda Carlin was the winning pitcher in both ends of the doubleheader coming on for 3.0 innings of scoreless relief work in the opener and going 3.2 innings as the starter in game two.

Game 1

The Warriors jumped on Millersville with two runs on three hits in the first, as Wagner and Smith singled and scored on a two-out double by sophomore OF Kasey Meckes.

They got another in the second as Mignoli singled, stole second and scored on a single by Thomas.

The lead was short-lived, as Millersville scored two runs in the third, then put up four runs in the fourth – including home runs by Sarah Bertoni and Stephanie Kulp to open the inning – for a 6-3 lead.

ESU came back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to get within 6-5. Woods singled, Mignoli walked and Thomas singled to drive in Woods and put runners on second and third. Wagner followed with an RBI single to plate Mignoli and cut the deficit to one.

Carlin relieved junior Laura Suits (4.0 IP) in the fifth and held Millersville to just two hits the rest of the way. The Marauders threatened but left two runners on base in the sixth, and after a 1-2-3 seventh, the Warriors started their game-winning rally.

Sophomore 2B Jamie Smith led off with a bunt single and Rebecca Smith followed with a bunt single to put the tying and winning runs on base. Meckes drew a one-out walk to load the bases, and Denaro singled to right to score Jamie Smith. With the bases loaded, one out and the winning run on third, Woods hit a ground ball to Jordan Sheffield at shortstop, who stepped on second but was unable to get Woods to complete the double play as Rebecca Smith crossed with the winning run.

ESU had 12 hits in the contest, all off Sarah Bertoni, with Wagner, Rebecca Smith, McNeil and Thomas all recording two-hit games.

Millersville had 13 hits, including a 3-for-4 game with three RBI by Jamie Motsko.

Game 2

ESU had 17 hits, including 16 singles, with McNeil (3-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 runs) and Woods (3-for-4, RBI, run) keying the offense.

Wagner and McNeil both had two hits in the first inning as the Warriors scored nine runs (six earned) on nine hits, a walk and an error. Wagner, Jamie Smith, Rebecca Smith, McNeil and Meckes all had hits before Millersville recorded an out, and Woods and Mignoli followed with singles to push the lead to 4-0.

The bases were loaded nearly the entire inning and Wagner's second single of the frame chased starter Brianna Andraos (0.1 IP, 8 hits, 9 runs, 6 earned). Jamie Smith drew a bases loaded walk off reliever Amanda Wink and McNeil drove in the final two runs with her second hit of the inning.

ESU got two runs, both unearned, in the fifth after Millersville had made it 9-4 in the fourth. The Warriors closed it out in the sixth as Denaro and Woods singled, Mignoli had a sacrifice bunt and Thomas had an RBI to bring home Denaro and make it 12-4, invoking the eight-run rule.

The Warriors have won four straight, including a sweep of Clarion (4-3, 5-2) on Saturday, after dropping five in a row. They have a pair of non-conference doubleheaders coming up this weekend with trips to Lock Haven on Friday and Gannon on Saturday.

The PSAC East schedule concludes with a trip to West Chester (April 23), a home doubleheader with Kutztown (April 26) and a trip to Shippensburg (April 27) as the division's five teams play for three playoff berths.