MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – After dropping an 8-6 decision in game one, the East Stroudsburg University baseball team bounced back with a 7-3 victory over Millersville in game two of the doubleheader on Saturday at Cooper Park.

The Warriors, who avoided the series sweep of the Marauders, improved to 10-6 overall and 8-4 in PSAC East play. Millersville dropped to 9-4 overall and 6-2 in league play.

Freshman Jerome Repetz came on to pinch hit for the Warriors in top of the seventh of game two and busted the contest open after hitting the Warriors' third grand slam of the season.

Redshirt senior Joey Paolini finished the day 3-for-5 with three walks, four runs and one run batted in while freshman Jeremy Piatkiewicz was 4-for-7 one walk, one run scored and one RBI. In game one, redshirt junior Brainy Rojas and redshirt freshman Ben Piripavel each recorded a pair of RBIs.

Redshirt senior Connor Johnson started game two for the Warriors throwing 5.2 innings, allowing two runs, one of them earned, on four hits and striking out five to earn his second win of the season.

Game 1
The Warriors were trailing by six runs entering the top of the sixth inning and scored five runs to cut the Millersville led to 7-6 but an insurance run by the Marauders in the bottom half of the inning was too much for the Warriors to over come as they dropped game one of the doubleheader, 8-6, at Cooper Park.

Millersville raced out to a 1-0 lead on a pair of hits in the bottom of the first inning. Cole Friese and Bren Taylor led off with back-to-back singles and Friese eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Logan Trainer.

The Marauders extended their advantage in the next inning when Tyler Wright delivered a two-out single through the left side to make the score 2-0.
The Warriors got on the board in the top of the fifth inning after loading the bases with two-outs for Brock Kauffman, who worked a walk to score Paolini and make the game 2-1.

In the home half of the inning, Millersville responded with five runs on four hits and used a Warriors' error to push their lead to 7-1. Eric Callahan led off the inning with a home run and a fielding error by Logan Stirr gave the Marauders a three run lead. A walk with the bases loaded provided Millersville with their fifth run of the game and a single to right field by Pete Vaccaro scored a pair.

The Warriors answered with their own five-run inning in the top of the sixth to cut Millersville's lead back down to one. Stirr worked a lead off walk, Tim Haverstick singled to left field and Paolini delivered a base knock to score Stirr for the Warriors' second run of the game. After Piatkiewicz loaded the bases with a walk, Rojas singled to bring home Haverstick and Paolini to make the score 7-4. Piripavel followed up with a double down the left field line to drive home Piatkiewicz and Rojas which made the score 7-6.

In the bottom half of the inning, Millersville scored a run to push their lead to 8-6. Friese walked with one out, stole second and came around to scored on a base hit from Taylor.

The Warriors put runners on second and third with one out in the top of the seventh inning after Paolini doubled and Ricky Bromirski singled but Millersvilles' Christian Wingard recorded a strikeout and flyout to win the game for the Marauders.

Millersville starter Jeff Taylor earned the win after pitching 5.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits to go along with five strikeouts. Jacob Paulishak failed to record an out while allowing three runs on two hits and Kris Pirozzi was responsible for two runs on two hits over the third of an inning. Wingard worked 1.2 innings, surrendering a pair of hits while striking out three to earn his second save of the season.

Redshirt freshman Brent Francisco was handed the lose after allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits over 4.0 innings. Mike Yates yielded two runs on two hits and CJ Gonzales conceded one run on one hit, each in an inning of work.

Six different Warriors recorded at least one hit and Paolini finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI.

Game 2
The Warriors jumped out to early 3-0 lead, but Millersville clawed their way back to make the score 3-2 headed into the final inning. ESU's offense exploded with four runs on three hits which was highlighted by the Repetz grand slam to give the Warriors a 7-2 lead. ESU surrendered one run in the bottom half of the inning to hold on for the 7-3 victory in game two of the twin bill at Cooper Park.

ESU raced out to a 3-0 advantage in the top of the third on one hit and one costly error by Mansfield. Carson Freeman, Haverstick and Paolini each drew a walk to load the bases for Bromirski who hit into a fielder's choice after throwing error by the pitcher which allowed Freeman to race home. Piatkiewicz delivered a one-out base hit to drive home Paolini to give the Warriors a three run lead.

Johnson was cruising along for the Warriors, allowing just two hits through his first 5.0 innings of work but ran into trouble in the bottom of the sixth when two hits and one error allowed the Marauders to plate a pair. An error to open the inning followed by a single from Friese put runners on the corners for Taylor who delivered a double to right center field which scored Wright. Millersville cut the Warriors lead to 3-2 on ground ball out that let Friese score but a strikeout and groundball out from Gonzales, who relived Johnson, limited the damage.

The Warriors blew the game open in the top of the seventh inning with four runs on three hits all with two outs to make the score 7-2. Stirr started the rally for the Warriors with a base knock, followed a Haverstick single and a Paolini walk to load the bases. Repetz was asked to pinch hit for Bromirski and delivered a grand slam to right field to give ESU a five-run lead.

Millersville made it interesting in the bottom half of the inning as they loaded the bases on three free passes with no outs. JP Nolan came on to replace Gonzales and got the first out of the inning on Friese's fielders' choice which made the score 7-3. After recording a strikeout, Nolan got Trainer to hit a grounder to Piatkiewicz who flipped the ball to Paolini on second for the final out of the game.

Johnson was credited with the win after firing 5.2 innings, allowing just two runs (one earned) on four hits to go along with five punchouts. Gonzales permitted one run on three walks over 0.1 innings and Nolan recorded a strikeout in his one inning.

Millersville starter Wyatt Tyson suffered the loss after surrendering three runs (one earned) on one hit over 1.1 innings. Andrew Mayhew and Aidan Welch combined for 2.2 scoreless innings and Conor Cook was responsible for three runs on four hits over 2.2 innings. Bobby Dorta allowed one run on one hit in his a third of an inning pitched.

Up Next
The Warriors return to Creekview Park on Tuesday as they welcome Kutztown for a non-conference single nine-inning game beginning at 3 p.m.