Box Score (Game 1)  |  Box Score (Game 2)  |  Photo Gallery

EAST STROUDSBURG – Mary Wallick's first home run of the season could not have come at a better time for East Stroudsburg University.

Trailing 5-2 in the seventh inning of Game 2, the senior third baseman crushed a grand slam to straightaway center field to give the Warriors a 6-5 victory and a valuable split of Friday's doubleheader at Zimbar Field.

ESU (11-17, 3-5) remains two games ahead of Kutztown (12-15, 1-7) in the PSAC East standings after dropping the opener by an 8-6 final. The Warriors are a game back of Millersville (15-14, 4-4) for the third and final postseason spot halfway through the conference schedule.

After working the count to 3-1, Wallick fouled off three-consecutive balls before finding a pitch she could handle. The walk-off hit was the second of her ESU career, and it was the program's first game-ending grand slam since 2011.

The rally began with singles by senior Madison Oren, sophomore Rachel Grabowski and freshman Sofia Cecchin. Wallick's heroics came after the first out was made on a fielder's choice at the plate. The walk-off gave sophomore RHP Erica Molinaro (1-1) her second collegiate win after she held Kutztown to one run over the final 2 2/3 innings.

Game 2 was scoreless through the first three innings. The Golden Bears jumped ahead 4-0 after plating a pair in both the fourth and fifth innings, but the Warriors pulled within 4-2 after scoring twice in the bottom half of the fifth. Sophomore Kaylee Hazewski drove in both runs in that frame with a clutch two-out single through the left side.

Kutztown added an insurance run in the top of the seventh prior to Wallick's grand slam.

Wallick and senior Heather Visco each had two hits in the night cap. Cecchin added two runs scored and her 11th stolen base of the season. She is a perfect 11 for 11 in stolen base attempts on the year.

ESU had a chance to win both games, as the home side scored four unanswered runs to grab a 6-4 lead after five innings in the opener. Freshman Ashley Spencer had the go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the fifth, and junior Madison Vicendese added an RBI base knock of her own later in the frame.

Kutztown, though, scored once in the sixth and three more times in the seventh to rally for the win. Bridget Newman delivered a go-ahead two-run homer with no outs in the seventh.

Vicendese led the Warrior offense in Game 1, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored. She is hitting .615 (8-13) with a .643 OBP over ESU's first four games this week.

Hazewski added two hits and her PSAC-leading 19th stolen base of the season from the top of the lineup. Cecchin and Visco also picked up RBIs for ESU in the opener.

Junior RHP Angelica Dark started in the circle and returned to record the final two outs of the seventh. She allowed four runs (two earned) over 5 2/3 innings.

ESU is back in action at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, traveling to Millersville for another key PSAC East twinbill. The teams split their first doubleheader at Zimbar Field on March 30, with Millersville winning the opener 5-4 in nine innings before the Warriors rallied for a 6-4 victory in Game 2.

Notes:

Wallick's previous walk-off was a game-ending double against Georgian Court on April 9 last season. She is batting a team-best .352 this season, with 10 doubles, 12 RBIs and nine stolen bases.

ESU's last walk-off grand slam was hit by Alex Schubert on March 6, 2011, with her long ball giving the Warriors an 8-6 win over Southern New Hampshire.

ESU's non-conference home doubleheader against Jefferson on Sunday has been cancelled and will not be made up this season. The Warriors next scheduled home date is a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader against Felician beginning at 2 p.m.