Box Score

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – Redshirt junior Christian Rishel went 4 for 5 with three RBIs, and redshirt senior LHP Mike Pepio escaped a late jam in the bottom of the eighth, as East Stroudsburg University completed a 7-6 comeback victory at LIU Post on Wednesday.

Rishel delivered a two-run double to ignite a five-run top of the sixth for the Warriors (15-12), who entered the frame trailing 4-0. Pepio then limited the host Pioneers (19-12) to one additional run in the eighth after entering the game with a 7-5 score and the bases loaded with nobody out.

A two-run homer by Zach Fritz accounted for half of LIU Post's four runs in the early stages of the contest. ESU was limited to three hits (all singles) through the opening five innings.

The Warriors, though, managed five hits during their five-run sixth. Rishel and redshirt junior Mike Sulcoski each registered two-run doubles, and sophomore Joey Paolini capped off the rally with a two-out RBI single to put the visitors in front.

ESU plated two key insurance runs on RBI singles by freshman Brock Kauffman and Rishel in the seventh. Those runs would turn out to be vital, as LIU Post began to chip away at its deficit in the next inning.

The first four Pioneers reached base in the eighth, with a bases loaded walk by leadoff man Ramger Iglesias reducing the Warrior lead to two as Pepio entered the contest. He induced a sacrifice fly to the first batter he faced, and followed with a strikeout of No. 3 hitter Rob Andreoli.

After the next batter reached on an error to load the bases once again, Pepio got a fielder's choice groundout to preserve the lead. He then worked around a leadoff error in the bottom of the ninth, using a pickoff, groundout and strikeout to close out the win.

Rishel's four-hit game was his first of the season. He is batting .609 (14 for 23) with 10 RBIs during a current eight-game hitting streak which has raised his season average to a team-high .424.

Sulcoski added two hits and two RBIs for the Warriors, while senior Steven Zimmerman, Jr. scored twice and recorded his second stolen base of the spring.

Sophomore LHP Tyler Stafursky worked three innings in relief to improve his season record to 3-1. Redshirt freshman LHP Andrew Alvino started the contest, allowing one hit and one run over the first two innings. Pepio earned his second save of 2018.

ESU is back in action at 1 p.m. on Friday for a PSAC East doubleheader at Kutztown. The teams will conclude their four-game weekend series at Mitterling Field on Saturday, with Game 1 again scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.