MANSFIELD, Pa. – The East Stroudsburg University softball team combined to outscore Mansfield 18-3 on Monday afternoon, sweeping the Mounties in a doubleheader at Helen Lutes Field. The Warriors (10-4, 5-3 PSAC East) have posted victories in five of its last six contests and have reached the 10-win mark in just 14 games: its best start through 14 games since 1990. The Mounties fall to 1-6 on the season.
Leading 4-1 in the first game, the Warriors tacked on nine runs in the top of the seventh to secure a 13-1 victory. The Warriors kept momentum in game two, earning a 5-2 victory in second half of the twin bill.
Sophomore Molly Nies (5-for-9, 4 RBIs) and Reilly Vicendese (5-for-9, 3 RBIs) paced the offense with a combined 10 hits and seven RBIs. Rachel Arner and Sofia Cecchin added three hits apiece.
Marah Range (6-1) posted wins in both games of the doubleheader. She allowed just one earned run and four hits, striking out nine. She held the Mounties to bat .190 in 6.1 innings of work.
Game One
After two scoreless frames to begin the doubleheader, ESU was the first to strike in the top of the 3rd. Lexi Wright singled and stole second to begin the frame. After advancing to third on a groundout, Vicendes singled home Wright to right field, lifting ESU to an early advantage.
MU would tie the game in its next at bats on an RBI single. ESU would snag the lead back in the top of the 4th, as a run would cross the plate on a throwing error.
The Warriors would pad its lead with an RBI single from Marissa Govan and an RBI double form Rachel Seiverd. In the top of the 6th.
With ESU leading by three runs, the Warriors secured the win with nine runs on six hits and three errors in the top of the seventh to win 13-1.
Game Two
ESU kept momentum in the top of the 1st. Nies opened the game with a double and Vicendes would send home Nies in the next at bat with a single.
Mansfield tied the game in the bottom half of the first with a double.
Nies struck once again in the top of the 4th, as double to center field scored two to give the Warriors a 3-1 advantage.
MU was able to trim the deficit to one and threatened to tie, but Leigh Ann Jenkins was able to trap two Mounties on base in the frame.
In the seventh, ESU added a pair of insurance runs and did not allow a run, earning the game two win by a score of 5-2.
ESU returns to the diamond on Fri., March 26 at Millersville. The Marauders will then travel to Creekview Park to face the Warriors on Sat., March 27 at 1:00 p.m.
