STROUDSBURG –The East Stroudsburg University softball team completed the non-conference portion of its schedule on a high note, sweeping Chestnut Hill by scores of 10-2 and 7-1 on Tuesday afternoon at Creekview Park.
The Warriors (18-9, 10-8 PSAC East) extended its winning streak over non-PSAC foes to nine, while the Griffins drop to 1-17 on the season.
Molly Nies supplied the Warrior with seven RBIs, going a perfect 4-4 from the plate. She also drew a walk, reaching base in every at bat. In game one, she posted five RBIs alone on a two-run home run and a bases-clearing double. Nies became the first Warrior to plate five RBIs in a single-game since teammate Ashley Spencer accomplished the feat against Bowie State in 2019.
Reilly Vicendese (4-7) and Sofia Cecchin (2-5) each plated a pair of RBIs. Cecchin recorded her 100th career hit with a single in game one.
MacKenzie Lewis (1-2, 3B), Spencer (1-2, 2B) and Lexi Wright drove in runs.
Marah Range (10-3) posted her 10th victory of the season in game one, going four innings in the shortened contest. The Sacramento native allowed two earned runs on four hits, striking out four Griffins.
In game two, Morgan Chapman (2-1) tossed a complete game victory, conceding just two hits and one earned run. She retired 15 consecutive Griffins in a row at one point in the impressive effort. In her last two starts, Chapman has earned a pair of victories, allowing just two earned runs in 12 innings (1.17 ERA). Opponents have mustered a .075 batting average against Chapman in that span.
ESU outhit CHC 18-6 in the doubleheader, conceding just four hits in game one and a pair in game two.
GAME ONE
ESU posted its 10th come-from-behind win of the season in the first contest, as CHC began the game on fire with a triple and a one-out two-run home run to take a 2-0 lead.
The Warriors would get a run back in the bottom of the 1st on a fielder's choice from Ashley Spencer.
In the bottom of the 2nd, ESU grabbed its first lead of the afternoon, piling on three runs on three hits, all with two outs. Nies smacked a two-run homer, while Cecchin found a gap with an RBI single. As a result the Warriors took a 4-2 lead.
After allowing the three hits in the first inning, Range settled down and scattered just one hit over her next three frames of work. Mickayla Grow came into the circle in relief in the top of the fifth, giving up a pair of two out walks, but got the final ground out of the inning to escape with no damage.
ESU would tack on four runs in the bottom of the 3rd off of an error, and Nies' bases-clearing double, as the Warriors built an 8-2 advantage.
In the bottom of the 5th, ESU reached the mercy-rule threshold with a pair of runs. Pinch runner Alyssa Castera scored a run on an error by the CHC catcher, while Wright plated the game-ending run with a sacrifice fly. The Warriors earned the 10-2 victory in the opening game.
GAME TWO
It was ESU that struck first in the second half of the twin bill, with Nies keeping her career-day going with a one-out RBI double to score Rachel Arner, who opened the half inning with a two-bagger herself. ESU would leave the bases juiced, but held a 1-0 lead after one inning.
After not being able to add to its lead in the second frame, ESU added four insurance runs on three hits in the bottom of the 3rd. A two-RBI Vicendese triple, a wild pitch and a fielder's choice bunt from Cecchin lifted the Warriors to a 5-0 lead.
Nies capped her big day with a an RBI single in the bottom of the 4th to extend the lead for ESU to 6-0.
Chapman allowed a single to the third batter she faced, but then retired 15 consecutive Griffins. Madison Peterson ended the hitting drought for CHC and shutout attempt from Chapman with a solo home run in the top of the 6th to make it a 6-1 ballgame.
Lewis sent a two-out triple to left center field in the bottom of the 6th to round out the scoring for ESU. Chapaman retired the side in order in the top of the 7th to secure the 7-1 victory.
The Warriors are return to Creekview Park on Friday, when ESU hosts No. 23 Kutztown. The opening pitch of the doubleheader is set for 3:00 p.m.
