SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.V. – The East Stroudsburg University baseball team slugged nine home runs on Thursday afternoon against Shepherd to earn an 12-6 win in game one and an 8-8 tie in the second game of the doubleheader at Fairfax Field.

ESU used 12 runs on 12 hits in game one to improve to 14-14-1 on the season and 12-11-1 in PSAC East play while Shepherd move to 18-11-1 overall and 14-9-1 in conference play.

Redshirt junior Brock Kauffman had himself a day at the plate going 6-for-8 with three home runs, eight RBIs and four runs scored. Also homering for the Warriors was Brainy Rojas, Tommy Dunleavy, Tim Haverstick, Ben Piripavel and Carson Freeman twice. Piripavel smashed the first home run of his career in the opener and Freeman recorded the 20th and 21st long balls of his career to move just one off the program record.

The Bangor, Pa finished with four hits, two RBIs and two runs while Rojas recorded three hits, two RBIs, four runs and one stolen base.

Game One
Despite trailing 1-0 after the first inning, the Warriors would go on to score 12 runs on 12 hits and use five home runs to earn the 12-6 victory in game one of the doubleheader.

Dunleavy, Freeman, Haverstick, Kauffman and Rojas each recorded a home run for the Warriors. Kauffman paced the offense going 3-for-4 with five RBIs while Rojas had a pair of hits and three runs.

ESU starter Connor Johnson allowed three runs on three hits and struck out one across three innings in the no decision. Mike Yates was awarded with the win after surrendering three runs on three hits and striking out four over the final four innings of work.

Shepherd stater Steve Bowley suffered the loss after yielding eight runs (six earned) on seven hits and striking out five over 3.2 innings.

The Rams raced out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-out RBI single to left field from Joey Schwartz that plated Cole Daugherty. On the play, Piripavel helped to limit the damage when fired a strike home to cut off Dalton Stewart for the third out of the inning.

In the top half of the third, ESU exploded for six runs on four hits to take a 6-1 lead. Paolini got the Warriors on the board with an RBI double down the left field to score Zack Hynes, who came on to pinch run for Jerome Repetz. Following a catcher's interference that allowed Brainy Rojas on base, Piripavel singled to right field to plate Paolini which put ESU out in front 2-1. With runners on the corners, Kauffman then delivered three-run home run to right field to push the Warriors' advantage to 5-1. Dunleavy capped off the frame with a two-out solo homer to left field to give ESU a five run lead.

Shepherd answered in the home half of the inning with a two-run homer off the bat of Stewart to cut the Warriors lead to 6-3.

ESU would get two runs back in the top of the fourth inning on their third home run off the game from Rojas to make the score 8-3. Hynes set up Rojas with a single before the redshirt delivered a two-out blast to left field.

The Rams cut ESU's lead to 8-5 in the home half of the fifth inning with two runs on two hits. Brennan Holmes singled to right center to plate Caleb Walls and Stewart came around to score on a fielder's choice.

Haverstick pushed ESU's lead back to four runs with a leadoff homer run in the top of the sixth inning. Kauffman then delivered a two-out single to left field to plate Piripavel and Rojas which made the score 11-5.

Freeman smashed the fifth home run of the game for ESU to begin the top of the seventh inning to make the score 12-5 in favor of the Warriors.

Game Two
Finding themselves trailing 4-1 headed into the third inning, the Warriors used back-to-back-to-back home runs from Piripavel, Kauffman and Freeman to take the lead but a back and forth game two with the Rams ended in an 8-8 tie in eight innings.

Redshirt senior Cam Voss allowed five runs on four hits while striking out seven over four innings in the no decision. Tom Reisigner pitched two innings the final two innings for the Warriors striking out six and walking one.  

Nick Trabacchi started for the Rams giving up six runs on four hits and punching out eight in four innings.

Kauffman carried his momentum at the plate into the first inning of game two as he hit his second home run of the afternoon, this time a solo shot, to put the Warriors out in front 1-0.

In the bottom of the second inning, Voss issued three walks and allowed a three-run homer to Caleb Wells to give Shepherd a 4-3 lead. The Rams initially tied the game at 1-1 on sacrifice fly from Daugherty.

The Warriors would regain the lead in the top of the third inning off back-to-back-to-back home runs from Piripavel, Kauffman and Freeman. Piripavel got the scoring started with a two-run blast to right field that plated Jeremy Piatkiewicz, followed by Kauffman's second solo shot of the game. Freeman capped the inning with another solo homer to put the Warriors ahead 5-4.

Shepherd tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI ground out from Walls. The Rams put runners in scoring position after Goldsmith worked a walk and a double from Daugherty.

ESU then regained an 8-5 lead in the top half of the fifth with three runs on three hits. Piatkiewicz drew a lead off walk before being driven in a double from Rojas. Kauffman followed with an infield single to bring in Rojas and Dunleavy doubled to plate Kauffman to give ESU a three-run lead.

The Rams got one run back in the home half of the inning to cut the Warriors advantage to 8-6. Stewart led off the inning with a walk and Schwartz was hit by pitch before Zach Doss delivered a two-out single to left field to score Schwartz.  

Shepherd evened the score at 8-8 in the bottom of the sixth inning with two runs on two hits. Daugherty singled up the middle to begin the frame and Walls worked a walk before both runners advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch. Jared Carr had an RBI ground out to score Daugherty and Holmes followed with a single through the left side to tie the game. The Rams were still threatening with bases loaded and only one out, but Warriors the worked a 6-4-3 double play to get out of the jam.

ESU had a chance to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning when they loaded the bases with two outs, but a strikeout squashed the Warriors' scoring chances. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shepherd advanced a runner to second but were unable to bring him home.

Up Next
The Warriors return to Creekview Park tomorrow as they welcome the Rams for a pair of seven-inning games to close out the season series. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.