STROUDSBURG – After a strong comeback win in the first game of the doubleheader, the East Stroudsburg University softball team nearly came from behind in the second game, but ultimately settled for a split with Mansfield on Saturday afternoon at Creekview Park.

Junior Rachel Seiverd smacked a go-ahead 2-run home run in the bottom of the 6th inning to lift the Warriors (8-3, 3-2 PSAC East) to a 4-3 victory in the opening game, while the Mountaineers (1-5, 1-5 PSAC East) held off a potential seventh-inning comeback in game two to defeat ESU, 8-6.

In game one, senior Marah Range (4-1) struck out 12 Mounties, which tied for the third most strikeouts in a single game in program history. She did not concede an earned run in a complete-game performance, allowing just four hits. She held Mansfield to bat just .154 with three unearned runs crossing the plate. Range's 12 strikeouts in a game marks the most by a Warrior pitcher since Jen Bensinger fanned a school-record 14 batters at Goldey-Beacom in 2009. Taylor Webb most recently reached the 12-strikeout plateau in 2012 against St. Thomas Aquinas.  

Leigh Ann Jenkins (9) and Mickayla Grow (2) posted 11 combined Ks, as ESU struck out a combined to punchout 23 Mounties in 14 innings on the afternoon.

Seiverd paced the offense with three RBIs on the day. Sophomore Molly Nies, and senior Kaitlyn Caleen plated a pair each, while Sofia Cecchin, Reilly Vicendese and Lexi Wright also registered runs batted in on the day.

Cecchin, Vicendes and Nies led the Warriors with three hits.

GAME ONE

Range allowed two of her four hits in the outing in the top of 1st. With one out in the frame, Range settled down and fired back-to-back strikeouts to escape the frame unscathed.

The Warriors struck in its first at bats in game one, as Caleen drove in Vicendese on a single to center field.

The Mounties would respond in its next turn to bat, as an error would allow a run to score. With runners on first and second, Hannah Breitigan sent a triple to right center, as MU jumped to a 3-1 advantage.

Both pitchers would lock in for the next few innings. In the bottom of the 4th, Ashley Spencer began a two-out rally with a single. Cecchin immediately followed with a double, as Spencer crossed home plate to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Range allowed a triple in the top of the 5th with two outs. The native of Sacremento would strikeout the next batter to keep the game tied at 3-2.

ESU put a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the 5th, but could not capitalize. However, Seiverd would blast a 2-run home run off the batters' eye in center field in the bottom of the 6th, as ESU retook the lead at 4-3.

Range retired the side in order in the seventh frame, picking up her 12th strikeout and ultimately her fourth win on the season.

GAME TWO

The Warriors struck first in the second game of the twin bill, as a sacrifice fly from Seiverd lifted ESU to an early 1-0 lead. Marissa Govan advanced to third on the play, and Molly Nies would eventually drive her home later on in the inning, as the Warriors led 2-0 after two innings at Vigon International Field.

Both offenses remained quiet until the top of the 5th. Mansfield scored four runs on four hits. Leigh Ann Jenkins (3-2) struck out two of the first three batters she faced in the frame, but Mansfield would score runs on a bases-loaded walk, a two-RBI bases-loaded single (2), along with a base-hit to left center field. MU led 4-2 after 4 1/2 innings.

As they have done all season, ESU responded. Wright would come around to score after reaching base on a dropped third strike. Wright was driven in by Vicendese, who reached on an infield single. Vicendese would reach scoring position after stealing second, but was unable to cross home plate in the inning.

The Mounties extended its lead on the scoreboard to 8-3 in top of the 6th inning on two hits. A two-RBI double and a two-run home run supplied the four tallies in the stanza.

Faced with its final three outs in the bottom of the seventh, ESU doubled its runs to six, on four hits in the frame. Wright drove in a run on a double, Nies singled home Wright and Caleen would send Rachel Arner, who pinch-ran for Nies in the inning. With the game-tying run coming up to the plate, ESU could not complete the comeback, seeing its three-game winning streak come to a halt.­­

ESU and Mansfield will meet again on Monday, with the Warriors and Mounties meeting again on Monday afternoon in Mansfield. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. at Helen Lutes Field.