Box Scores
L 8-4
L 7-3

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Related:
* Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Day / Military Appreciation Day collage (instagram/ESUWarriors)
* How to contribute to ESU's Cystic Fibrosis Foundation initiative

EAST STROUDSBURG - No. 22-ranked Millersville rallied in the seventh inning of both games to post a pair of wins over East Stroudsburg University in PSAC East baseball on Saturday afternoon at Mitterling Field.

Millersville (24-12, 8-8), the defending NCAA Division II Atlantic Region champion and national runner-up, scored five runs in the seventh inning to rally from a one-run deficit in an 8-4 win in the opener, and plated four to pull away from a tie game in a 7-3 win in the nightcap.

ESU (16-15-1, 6-9-1), which won the series opener, 2-1, at Millersville on Friday behind a brilliant complete game effort from senior Tyler Eckman (5-0, PSAC-leading 1.37 ERA in seven starts), takes on Shippensburg in an important PSAC East series next weekend as the Warriors look to play their way into contention for their sixth PSAC Tournament spot in eight years.

ESU got strong starting pitching performances through six innings from redshirt senior Ben Stine and freshman Connor Johnson, but a staff that was limited due to last week's 3-1 series win vs. Kutztown, which was pushed to Sunday and Monday, wasn't able to get the Warriors at least a split in the weekend series.

Redshirt senior 2B Jay Young was 3-for-4 in the opener and 4-for-7 in the doubleheader, and senior OF Ian Allen was 3-for-6 with two doubles and two HBP. Freshman SS Joey Paolini was 3-for-7 with two doubles in the No. 9 spot.

Junior C Steven Zimmerman, Jr. hit a solo homer to tie the nightcap at 3-3 in the fifth inning. Zimmerman also homered Friday at Millersville, and has a team-leading seven homers this season. He pushed his career total to 16, tied for fourth in school history, and three from the school record of 19 held by former Atlantic Region Player of the Year Chris Knott (2011-14).

Allen, who was 5-for-11 (2 doubles, walk, 3 HBP) in the series, moved into a tie for third in school history in career extra-base hits (63) and fifth in total bases (288). Allen entered the weekend ranked in ESU's top 10 in 10 offensive categories, including first in stolen bases (92).

ESU held its annual Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Day and Military Appreciation Day, with several pregame ceremonies. The Warriors presented a check for $500 to Brayden's Mission, which supports the national Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  ESU's program has partnered with Brayden Walsh, now 13 years old, from Tannersville for the last four years through Team Impact.

Walsh and Ashlee Terwilliger, a 2006 ESU graduate and the wife of ESU football assistant coach Jimmy Terwilliger, threw out ceremonial first pitches. Terwilliger received a double lung transplant in February to assist in her treatment for cystic fibrosis. Crystal Martinez, 22, a graduate of Pocono Mountain West and a CF survivor, sang the national anthem, reprising her appearance in 2010.

As part of Military Appreciation Day, ESU displayed a 65-foot American flag in right field provided by the Pennsylvania National Guard, in coordination with ESU's ROTC. The ROTC also presented a color guard, and ESU's Sign Language Club signed the national anthem as Martinez performed.

The names of more than 30 veterans with family connections to ESU's baseball program were read and recognized between innings.


GAME 1 - L 8-4

ESU led 4-3 entering the seventh before the Marauders scored five runs on five hits and a walk to take control. ESU put two runners on in the seventh after Young and Allen singled, but reliever Mike Mock (who started the inning) got out of the jam.

Cordell Shannon started and went 6.0 innings for Millersville (4 runs, 7 hits, 7 strikeouts, 1 walk).

Stine (6.1 IP) was credited with seven runs allowed, but just three (one earned) in the first 6.0 innings.

Millersville scored two unearned runs in the top of the first, but ESU answered with three in the bottom half as Young had a leadoff single, Allen clubbed an RBI double, Zimmerman had an RBI single, junior C/DH Mike Sulcoski drew a walk and junior 3B Laine Renaud had a two-out RBI single for a 3-2 lead.

Stine stranded two in the top of the second, and ESU took a 4-2 lead in the bottom as Paolini hit a leadoff double and scored on an RBI single by Young, who recorded his 100th career RBI with a two-out, two-run single in the second for the offense in Friday's 2-1 win in the series opener.

Shannon allowed just one ESU baserunner over the next four innings, while Stine yielded just a run in the third and stranded a leadoff single on third base in the fifth.

Young (3-for-4), Allen (2-for-4) and Paolini (2-for-3) all had multiple hits for ESU. Millersville put together 13 hits with the 3-6 hitters going 9-for-15.

GAME 2 - L 7-3

Johnson dueled with Millersville starter David Manasek (5.0 IP, 3 runs, 7 hits, 3 strikeouts, 5 walks) and reliever Matt Ulrich for a 3-3 deadlock through six innings.

ESU struck for a run in the first inning on a one-out double by Allen, who scored on a two-out RBI single by Tamecki (2-for-3, walk).

Chas McCormick (3-for-4, 5 RBI) hit a two-run homer for Millersville in the third, and Cain had a two-out RBI single for a 3-1 Marauders lead in the fourth.

ESU chipped away with runs in both the fourth and fifth to tie it at 3-3. Renaud walked, freshman OF Carson Freeman singled and redshirt senior OF Casey Saverio lifted a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning before ESU left two on base.

In the fifth, Zimmerman belted a one-out solo homer to forge the 3-3 tie. The Warriors loaded the bases on a walk by Tamecki, a single by Renaud and a walk by Saverio but couldn't get the go-ahead run across.

Johnson retired Millersville 1-2-3 in the top of the sixth, and ESU put runners on first and second with one out before Ulrich got out of the sixth.

In the seventh, Millersville broke the tie with four run on two hits and four walks, with McCormick's bases-clearing double the big hit.

ESU got the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh - Tamecki singled, Renaud reached safely on a fielders choice and redshirt sophomore PJ Van Orman walked - but Ulrich got a fly ball to end it.