Box Scores
L 5-2
L 10-7

EAST STROUDSBURG – Bloomsburg rode two big innings to a pair of wins over East Stroudsburg University on Monday at Mitterling Field as the Warriors and Huskies split this weekend's PSAC East baseball series.

ESU (24-12, 9-7), coming off two wins at Bloomsburg on Sunday, saw the Huskies (12-26, 5-15) return the favor on Monday afternoon.

Bloomsburg scored four runs in the second inning in a 5-2 win in the opener, then scored seven runs in the seventh in a 10-7 win in the nightcap. The Huskies are 5-3 in their last two PSAC East series, taking three of four against Shippensburg last weekend, after an 0-12 divisional start.

Senior 2B Joe Bennie had five hits in the leadoff spot and senior OF Eric Boyer had four hits, becoming the 15th player in school history with 150 career hits.

Senior Brian Ernst set a school record for career putouts with 823, one day after becoming the fourth player in PSAC history with 150 hits and 150 strikeouts in a career. Ernst struck out 11 in a complete game victory in Sunday's series opener.  (Complete recap)

ESU, which is 17-6 since March 26, hosts Philadelphia University in a single nine-inning game on Tuesday at 3 p.m., then faces Kutztown in next weekend's PSAC East series and hosts the opener on Friday at 1 p.m.

The Warriors are tied for third in the PSAC East with West Chester at 9-7, with Millersville and Kutztown both tied for first at 12-4. Shippensburg (9-11) is away from divisional action next weekend and faces Mansfield (4-12) on May 3-4. The top four schools will advance to the PSAC Tournament.

Game 1

Junior Matt Smith threw his third complete game of the season but fell to 5-2, as Bloomsburg scored four runs on five hits in the second inning. The Huskies had eight hits in the game, including a solo homer by Aaron Russell in the seventh.

Smith and Parkland High School classmate Casey Cooperman were the starting pitchers, with Cooperman going 6.1 innings (9 hits, 0 earned runs) and Tyler Hill getting the final two outs for the save.

ESU scored unearned runs in the third and fifth innings. Boyer scored on an RBI single by junior OF Chris Knott in the third, and Boyer reached on an error, stole second, moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher and scored on a double play in the fifth.

The Warriors left eight runners on base, including seven in the first three innings. Bennie, Boyer and freshman OF John Armbrust all had two hits.

Game 2

ESU led 7-3 going into the top of the seventh, but Bloomsburg scored seven runs on three hits and four walks, including a go-ahead grand slam by Brian Almand. The Huskies scored five of their seven runs with two outs after Nick Eversole hit a two-run homer earlier in the inning.

After Bloomsburg took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, the Warriors tied it in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out single by redshirt sophomore OF Andy Brandstetter.

ESU scored three runs (all unearned) with two outs in the fifth. Bennie singled and stole second and Ernst walked to open the inning, and Knott reached on a throwing error with two outs that brought Bennie home with the go-ahead run. Junior catcher Eric Forth, who was 5-for-6 with a double, homer and three RBI in Sunday's sweep at Bloomsburg, followed with a two-run single for a 4-1 lead.

Bloomsburg scored twice in the top of the sixth, but the Warriors came back with three in the bottom. Bennie doubled and scored on an two-out RBI single by Boyer, junior DH Mike Tenaglia doubled to put runners at second and third, and Knott belted a two-RBI single to stretch the lead to 7-3.

Bennie was 3-for-4 with two runs, Knott was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs and Boyer was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run to lead ESU's 11-hit attack.

Junior Keenan Stare went the first 5.0 innings on the mound for ESU, allowing three runs on seven hits. He pitched to two batters in the sixth inning.

Sean McCloskey was the pitcher of record for Bloomsburg despite allowing three runs in the sixth. Hill pitched a perfect seventh inning for his second save of the day.


Game Notes

* Bennie was 7-for-16 in the series to raise his team-leading batting average to .385. He is also tied for the team lead with 29 runs scored.

* Boyer finished the day with 152 career hits and recorded his 111th career RBI, 3rd in school history. He is 2nd with 54 stolen bases and tied for 3rd with 82 walks. He also collected his 40th career extra-base hit.

* Ernst had his 42nd career double, moving into a tie for 3rd at ESU and two away from the school record. He moved into a tie for 7th with 181 career hits, ranks 4th with 110 RBI and is tied for 3rd with Boyer with 82 walks.

* Both teams hit over .300 in the series – ESU (.339) and Bloomsburg (.307). Bloomsburg scored 10 of its 19 runs in the final game, and ESU scored 17 runs.

* ESU made three errors, all on Monday, and leads the PSAC and ranks in the top five in Division II in fielding percentage (.973). Bloomsburg made 11 errors in the series, fielding .914.