STROUDSBURG – The East Stroudsburg University softball team outscored Holy Family by a combined score of 19-3, in a pair of dominant non-conference victories on Monday afternoon at Creekview Park. With the sweep, the Warriors (7-3, 2-2 PSAC East) are off to its best start through 10 games since the 2016 season, while the Tigers fall to 0-2 in its first action on the 2021 slate.
ESU shutout HFU, 5-0, in game one and exploded for 14 runs on 14 hits in a 14-3 victory in the second half of the doubleheader. The Warriors posted a batting average of .457 on the day and limited the Tigers to hit just .217.
Lexi Wright (3-for-5), Kaitlyn Caleen and Rachel Seiverd each recorded three RBIs.
After hitting a 3-run home run on Saturday, Ashley Spencer continued her hot streak at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a pair of RBIs.
Marissa Govan sent a 2-run home run over the right field fence for a pair of RBIs in game two. Katherine Donaghue also collected multiple RBIs in the doubleheader.
Molly Nies registered three hits, which included a double. Reilly Vicendese amassed three hits and was successful in all three stolen bases she attempted to steal.
Mikayla Pourby (1-0) impressed on the mound in the game one start, throwing a shutout. She allowed just three hits and struck out three and conceded just one walk. She held the Tigers to hit just .125.
In relief, Marah Range picked up the win in game two, allowing just two hits in 2 2/3 innings of action.
GAME ONE
The opening game of the day moved quickly, with both pitcher's settling in right away.
With the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the 2nd, HFU's Ashley Remington was able to post two consecutive strikeouts. However, Wright would send a single to the shortstop, as Caleen would score on the play. ESU was unable to tack on any additional runs in the frame.
The Warriors added another run in its next at bats in the bottom of the 3rd, as a sacrifice fly from Spencer would score Vicendese.
In the bottom of the 4th, ESU struck for the third consecutive inning, plating three runs on four hits and an HFU error. Nies doubled home Govan, while Vicendese and Kate Donahue each singled in the frame to score runs to round out the scoring.
Pourby continued to succeed on the mound, limiting the Tigers to at most one base runner in all seven innings she pitched for her third career shutout and her first since April 3, 2019 against Goldy-Beacom.
GAME TWO
ESU threatened to score in the bottom of the first, but could not plate a runner home on third base with two outs.
The Warriors scored its first runs of the second game in the bottom of the 2nd, as a double by Spencer followed by a triple from Sofia Cecchin would lift the Warriors to a 1-0 advantage. ESU would add another tally in the inning, as Wright would single home Cecchin.
HFU scored its first runs of the doubleheader in the next half inning, smacking four hits for three runs. Back-to-back doubles would tie the game and a single with runners on second and third would give the Tiger a 3-2 lead.
As it had done in three of its six wins on the season entering game two, the Warriors would come back furiously.
ESU immediately retook the lead in the bottom of the 3rd, as an RBI single from Donaghue and a ground out from Caleen on a sacrifice bunt would provide two runs to grab a 4-3 advantage. A ground out from Spencer would send home Rachel Arner on the next play. Cecchin would single and steal both second and third base, as Govan blasted a home run over the right-center field fence to hoist the Warriors to a 7-3 lead.
In its next at bats, ESU would secure the game with seven runs on five hits and an HFU error. A Vicendese single, Caleen single (2 RBI), Seiverd triple (3-RBI) and Wright double would extend the Warriors commanding lead to 14-3.
The Tigers put two runners on base in hopes of extending the game past the top of the fifth, but was unable to plate the runners. ESU earned its seventh win at home this season with the 14-3 triumph.
NOTES: ESU's 14 runs are the most since posting 16 runs against Bowie State on March 23, 2019 … All nine Warriors that started collected at least one RBI in the doubleheader … ESU has come from behind in four of its seven wins this season, including today's 14-3 effort. 2021 marks the best start for ESU since beginning the 2016 season with an 8-2 record.
UP NEXT: The Warriors returns to the diamond this weekend, when the Warriors continue PSAC East play at Mansfield on Friday and host the Mountaineers on Saturday at Creekview Park. Friday's doubleheader begins at 2:00 p.m., while Saturday's home twin bill begins at 1:00 p.m.
