EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – Redshirt senior
Connor Johnson took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of game two and redshirt freshman
Ben Piripavel went 3-for-3 with twos runs and two RBIs to help the East Stroudsburg University baseball team split the season-series against Kutztown on Senior Day at Creekview Park. The Golden Bears scored three runs in the final inning of game one to win 6-4 and the Warriors scored five runs on eight hits for the 5-2 victory in the second game of the twin bill.
ESU moved to 13-12 overall and 11-9 in the PSAC East while Kutztown went to 16-14 on the season and 10-14 in conference play.
Prior to today's game, the Warriors honored their nine seniors - Joe Barren,
Carson Freeman,
CJ Gonzales,
Tyler Guidos,
Connor Johnson,
Brett Lubreski,
Sir Walter Melendez,
Joey Paolini and
Cam Voss
Johnson was cruising through the first six innings, allowing just two baserunners to reach on a pair of walks before a hard hit single up the middle broke up the no-hit bid. The Parlin, N.J. native moved to 3-1 on the season after allowing two runs on two hits while striking out four and throwing the third complete game of his career.
Piripavel paced the Warriors on offense in both games as he went 6-for-7 with three doubles, four runs scored, four RBIs and three stolen bases. After flying out in his first at-bat of the day, the Bethlehem, Pa. native recorded six straight hits. Redshirt junior
Brock Kauffman collected a pair of hits and three RBIS on the day.
Game One
Entering the seventh inning tied at 3-3, Kutztown scored three runs with two outs and held on in the bottom half of the frame to earn a 6-4 victory in game one of the twin bill.
Following a scoreless first inning, the Golden Bears raced out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Ethan Martini delivered a two-out RBI double to left center field that allowed Brandon Heere and Mitchell Peers to score.
The Warriors got on the board with a run in the bottom of the third inning when Piripavel delivered a two-out single to center field, which allowed
Jeremy Piatkiewicz to score and get ESU within one run.
With three straight one-out doubles in the bottom of the fifth inning, ESU grabbed a 3-2 advantage. The Warriors tied the game at 2-2 when Piripavel knocked in Piatkiewicz and took the lead as the redshirt freshman came around to score on a double to left center field from
Carson Freeman.
Kutztown responded with one run on two hits in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-3. Connor Teschko delivered a two-out RBI single to center field that plated Joey Pettinelli, who came on to pinch run for Dominic Proietto after he doubled with one out.
With two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Kutztown scored three runs on three hits to take a 6-3 lead. A double from Mitchell Peers put the Golden Bears out in front and single from Andy Blum drove in a pair to give Kutztown a three run lead.
The Warriors looked to be mounting a comeback as Piripavel led off the home half of the inning with his second double of the game before coming around to score on a Kauffman sac fly to make the game 6-4. With two outs, Dunleavy and
Logan Stirr both had infield singles but Haverstick struck out to end the game.
Kutztown starter Zach Male was credited with the win after allowing three runs on seven hits and striking out 7 across 6.0 innings. Jake Skrocki earned the save despite allowing one run on three hits in the final inning.
Redshirt senior
Cam Voss was handed the loss after surrendering five runs on eights while punching out eight across 6.2 innings of work.
Game Two
Johnson took a no-hitter into the final inning, however a base knock to open the frame broke up the bid for the redshirt senior. Kutztown would go on to score two runs, but the Warriors held on for 5-2 victory in game two of the doubleheader.
The Warriors took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI double from Kauffman. Piripavel set up the scoring opportunity for the Warriors with a leadoff single before advancing to second on a stolen base.
Piripavel continued his strong afternoon at the dish in the bottom of the second inning when he doubled home a pair with two outs to give the Warriors a 3-0 lead.
Jerome Repetz led off the inning with a double and
Patrick Morrisey was hit by a pitch before Piatkiewicz delivered a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position for the redshirt freshman.
ESU pushed their advantage to 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning with two runs on four hits. Freeman poked a double down the right field line to plate Piripavel and he eventually came around to score on RBI single up the middle from Kauffman. Piripival put himself into scoring position with after recording his third base knock of the game and advancing to second on another stolen base.
After being held without a hit through the first six innings, Mitchell Peers started off the top of the seventh inning with a hard hit single up the middle to ruin the bid. Bishop followed with a double to center field to drive in Peers for Kutztown's first run of the game. Back-to-back groundouts pushed across Bishop to make the score 5-2 but Johnson got the final out to secure the win for the Warriors.
Golden Bears' starter Gavin Moretski took the loss after yielding five runs on eight hits over 6.0 innings of work.
Up Next
The Warriors return to Creekview Park on Wednesday as they welcome St. Thomas Aquinas for a single nine-inning game beginning at 3:00 p.m.
