KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Redshirt sophomore Chase Nowak tossed a no-hitter to help the East Stroudsburg University baseball team win game one 11-0, but the Warriors would fall 8-7, in 10 innings in the second game of the doubleheader to earn a split against Kutztown on Friday afternoon at North Campus Field.

The Warriors improved to 12-11 overall and 10-8 in the PSAC East, while the Golden Bears dropped to 15-13 on the season and 9-13 in conference play.

Nowak became the first pitcher since Nate Fiala in 2019 to toss a no-hitter and the ninth Warrior in program history to accomplish the feat. The Wilkes-Barre, Pa. native logged a career-high 11 strikeouts while issuing five walks across 7.0 shutout innings to push his record to 2-2 on the season.

On offense, ESU produced 18 runs on 23 hits across both games as redshirt junior Brock Kauffman helped pace the Warriors going 5-for-11 with three runs batted in and one run scored. Redshirt sophomore Logan Stirr provided the power as he record a pair of two-run home runs to drive in four runs.

Also homering for the Warriors was Tommy Dunleavy, who was 4-for-9 on the day with four RBIs and three runs scored, as well as graduate student Joey Paolini. Paolini recorded his 19th career homer in game one to move into a tie for second all-time and was 3-for-7 on the afternoon with two walks.

Brainy Rojas reached base eight times out of the leadoff spot on two hits, three walks and three hit by pitches. The redshirt junior scored five times and had three stolen bases in game two.

Game One
Nowak fired a no-hitter and ESU's offense scored 11 runs on 15 hits to secure an 11-0 victory in game one of the twin bill against Kutztown.

The Warriors jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Rojas came around to score after being hit by a pitch to leadoff the game. The redshirt junior made his way to third on a wild pitch and throwing error by the pitcher before Kauffman delivered an RBI single to right field.

ESU would score twos run in the top of the third inning on a home run to left center field from Dunleavy to make the score 3-0. Kauffman set up the redshirt junior after recording his second base knock of the game.

Kauffman stayed hot at the dish with an RBI double to left center in the top of the fourth to give the Warriors a 4-0 lead. Jeremy Piatkiewicz led off the frame with a single before stealing second and ultimately coming around to score on Kauffman's hit.

Paolini extended the Warriors lead to 5-0 in the top of the fifth inning with his third home run of the season on a solo shot to left field.

The Warriors added four runs on three hits and took advantage of two Kutztown errors to push their advantage to 9-0 in the top of the sixth inning. Dunleavy knocked in a pair on a single to left field and Stirr smashed a two-run shot to left center to highlight the frame for ESU.

Redshirt freshman Tim Haverstick added to the Warriors lead when he delivered a two-out single in the top of the seventh that plated Rojas and Freeman to make the score 11-0.

In the bottom half of the inning, Nowak walked a batter with two outs but struck out Mike Piscotty looking to complete the no-hitter.

Kutztown starter Trevor Leverington was handed the loss after allowing four runs on four hits over 3.1 innings of work.

Game Two
ESU and Kutztown needed 10 innings to decide a back-and-forth game two as the Golden Bears ultimately came out on top 8-7, to split the doubleheader at North Campus Field.

With two outs in the top of the first inning, Rojas and Dunleavy both came around to score on a pair of wild pitches to give the Warriors an early lead.

After being held scoreless in the opener Kutztown scored three runs on three hits in the home half of the first to take a 3-2 lead. Collin Bishop got the Golden Bears on the board with an RBI single and Mitchell Peers drove home a pair with a double to center field.

Each team failed to produce a run over the next three innings, but the Warriors tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the top of the fifth inning.  Kauffman delivered an infield single to third that allowed Rojas to race home, who reached earlier in the frame on his third hit by pitch of the afternoon.

The Warriors took the lead in the top half of the next inning as a wild pitch with the bases loaded allowed Haverstick to scamper home. The redshirt freshman worked a one-out walk earlier in the inning before advancing to third after Paolini singled and Rojas was issued a free pass.

Kutztown responded in the home half of the sixth when Andy Blum produced a one-out single into right field to score Collin Bishop and tie the game at 4-4.

With one out in the top of the seventh, Carson Freeman delivered a double down the left field line to score Dunleavy and give the Warriors a 5-4 advantage. Stirr followed with his second two-run of the game to give ESU a three-run lead as they headed to the bottom half of the inning. Kutztown would not go quietly as they scored three runs on four hits and with two outs, Bishop advanced home on wild pitch to tie the game at 3-3.

In extra innings, the Warriors had their best scoring chance in the top of the ninth when they loaded the bases with just one out, however they failed to push across a run. In the bottom of the tenth inning, Kutztown had two outs with runners on first and second when Gavin Moretski supplied a single down the right field line that allowed Heere to score the game-winning run for the Golden Bears.

Kutztown reliever Dominic Proietto earned the win after firing 4.1 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits. Golden Bears' starter Matt Ziminsky allowed four runs on four hits and struck out eight over 5.2 innings of work.

ESU reliver Mike Yates was credited with the loss after allowing one run on three hits in 3.0 innings of work. Brent Francisco started the game for the Warriors surrendering three runs on four hits and matching his career-high with 10 strikeouts across 5.0 innings. After allowing three runs in the first inning, the redshirt freshman allowed just two baserunners the rest of the way.

Up Next
The Warriors return to Creekview Park tomorrow for Senior Day as they close out the season series against the Golden Bears with a pair of seven-inning games beginning at noon.