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EAST STROUDSBURG - No. 12-ranked East Stroudsburg University battled back from a 7-0 deficit through four innings and an 8-6 hole in the eighth, but fell 9-8 (10 inn.) to Philadelphia University in non-conference baseball on Tuesday afternoon at Mitterling Field.

ESU (22-5) lost for just the fifth time this season, with nine Philadelphia U pitchers managing to hold the Warriors under their season average of 11.0 runs per game which ranks second in DII.

The Rams scored in each of the first four innings to take a 7-0 lead before ESU scored six in the bottom of the fifth to close within 7-6.

The Warriors tied it at 8-8 with two runs in the bottom of the eighth, but left the bases loaded and then left the tying run on third and winning run on second in the 10th.

Redshirt senior 3B Drew Hercik (3-for-6, double, run), redshirt junior OF Robert Bennie (2-for-5, walk, 2 doubles, 2 runs), redshirt senior 1B Matt Walewski (2-for-4, walk, RBI, run) and junior SS Billy Sablinski (2-for-5, walk, 3 RBI, run) all had multiple hits for ESU.

ESU moved to No. 12 in this week's NCBWA DII national poll after being ranked t-11th last week. The Warriors remained No. 2 in the NCBWA DII Atlantic Region poll.

ESU face Millersville (23-2), ranked No. 4 nationally and No. 1 in the region, in a four-game PSAC East series this weekend. The Warriors host the Marauders on Friday at 1 p.m., and travel to Millersville on Saturday.

ESU in this week's DII polls
NCBWA - 12 (from t-11)
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper - 12 (from 11)
D2BaseballNews.com - 9 (from 12)
Perfect Game - 13 (from 13)


NCBWA DII poll
1. St. Cloud State (Minn.) (15-0) - 373 points - previously 1
2. Colorado Mesa (25-4) - 353 - 2
3. West Alabama (26-5) - 334 - 4
4. Millersville (Pa.) (23-2) - 330 - 3
5. Franklin Pierce (N.H.) (20-2) - 326 - 5
6. USC Aiken (25-6) - 300 - 13
7. California Baptist (23-7) - 269 - 10
8. Quincy (Ill.) (15-5) - 238 - 9
9. Lander (S.C.) (26-8) - 231 - 6
10. Southern New Hampshire (17-2) - 220 - 14
11. Emporia State (Kan.) (21-6) - 217 - 15
12. East Stroudsburg (Pa.) (22-4) - 215 - t-11
13. St. Edward's (Texas) (23-7) - 200 - 23
14. Delta State (Miss.) (20-9) - 195 - NR
15. Chico State (Calif.) (20-6) - 151 - NR
16. Belmont Abbey (N.C.) (24-6-1) - 137 - 19
17. West Texas A&M (23-7) - 136 - 18
18. Tampa (Fla.) (22-6) - 133 - 7
19. Indianapolis (Ind.) (16-6) - 102 - 20
20. Missouri Southern (19-7) - 83 - t-21
21. Dixie State (Utah) (20-6) - 82 - 24
22. Lubbock Christian (Texas) (20-8) - 71 - t-11
23. Florida Southern (20-7) - 47 - NR
24. Mercyhurst (Pa.) (16-8) - 39 - NR
25. Tusculum (Tenn.) (22-8) - 26

Dropped out: #8 Cal State-Monterey Bay, #16 UC-San Diego (Calif.), #17 Lynn (Fla.), #t-21 Columbus State (Ga.), #25 Seton Hill (Pa.)

Also receiving votes: Grand Valley State (Mich.) (11-7-1) 20; Cal State-Monterey Bay (19-6) 18; Molloy (N.Y.) (14-6) 8; Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) (21-8) 7; Minnesota State (9-5) 7; UNC Pembroke (22-9) 3; UC San Diego (Calif.) (20-11) 2; Seton Hill (Pa.) (17-8) 1; Colorado State-Pueblo (17-6) 1.