BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – The East Stroudsburg University baseball team dropped a pair of contests to Bloomsburg on Saturday afternoon at Danny Litwhiler Field. The Huskies held on to win the opener, 9-8, and came from behind to take game two, 7-2.

ESU dropped to 10-9 overall and 8-6 in the PSAC East while Bloomsburg improved to 8-6 on the season and 8-6 in divisional play.

Despite being handed the no decision in game two, redshirt senior Connor Johnson fired 5.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out five.

After scoring eight runs on 12 hits in the first game, the Warriors offense was held to just two runs on three hits in game two. Freshman Tim Haverstick finished the day at the plate 3-for-7 with a homerun, two runs batted in and two runs scored.

Senior Joey Paolini recorded his 18th career homerun in the game one to move into a tie for third most all-time in program history. Redshirt juniors Brainy Rojas and Tommy Dunleavy each collected three hits on the afternoon.

Game 1
Trailing 9-6 enter the top of the seventh inning, the Warriors scored a pair and had runners on second and third with one out but were unable to push across the tying run as Bloomsburg held on for the 9-8 victory in game one of the doubleheader at Litwhiler Field.

The Warriors scored eight runs on 12 hits and had five different players record at least two hits. Haverstick and Paolini each belted two-run homers and combined for four hits, four RBIs and three runs scored.

Bloomsburg starter Chad Cooperman was credited with the win after allowing four runs on eight hits and striking six over 4.1 innings. Logan Hile was given with the save after recording the final two outs of the game.

Chase Nowak was handed the loss after surrendering five runs on four hits in one inning of work. Justin Guidos, JP Nolan, and Nathan Kichell combined to pitch the final six innings, allowing four runs on five hits while punching out seven.

The Warriors wasted no time as they jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on two hits in the top of the first. Rojas led off with a bunt single before Ben Piripavel and Carson Freeman each worked a walk to load the bases for Dunleavy. Dunleavy delivered a single through the left side scoring Piripavel and Brock Kauffman to give ESU the lead.

Bloomsburg responded in a bag way with five runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning to take a 5-2 lead. After a one-out single from Carter Chasnov and a walk from Kyle OFier, Jared Burcin singled to right center to make the score 2-1. Back-to-back walks pushed across the second run and a two-out double down the left field line from Cole Swiger scored a pair. Jake Reed singled home the fifth run of the inning but a relay throw from Dunleavy ended the inning for the Huskies.

The Huskies pushed their lead to 6-2 in the home half of the third after a balk from Justin Guidos with the bases loaded allowed a run to score.

ESU cut the deficit to 6-4 in the top of the fourth inning on a two-run homer from Haverstick. Dunleavy singled through the left side to lead off the frame which set up Haverstick for the one-out blast.

Bloomsburg got the run right back in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI groundout from Burcin. Chasanov came around to make the score 7-4 after doubling down the left field line and advancing to third on a past ball. The Huskies extended their lead to 9-4 in the home half of the fifth inning on back-to-back home runs.

The Warriors trimmed the deficit to 9-6 in the top of the sixth inning with their second two-run homer of the game. Logan Stirr drew a leadoff walk which set up Paolini who deposited the ball over the center field fence.

Trailing by three runs entering the final inning, the Warriors scored two runs on two hits to make the game 9-8. ESU then put runners on second and third with just one out but were unable to plate the game-tying run. Stirr walked and Haverstick had a base hit to center field before a wild pitch allowed them to advance for Jerome Repetz, who delivered a single down the right field line to score the pair. Ricky Bromirski came on to pinch run and following a Paolini walk, the duo completed a successful double steal. Rojas then hit a groundball to third baseman who threw home to cut off Bromirski for the second out of the inning which was followed up Piripavel fly out to end the game.

Game 2
After being held to one run on three hits through the first five innings, the Bloomsburg offense got to the Warriors' bullpen for six runs on five hits in the bottom half of the sixth to open a 7-2 lead. The Huskies recorded the final three outs without any threat from the Warriors to earn the win in game two of the twin bill.

Nick Stoner started for the Huskies and fired 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits while punching out 11 to earn the victory.

Mike Yates was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on two hits while recording only one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. Johnson was awarded the no decision after firing 5.0 innings while allowing one run on three hits to go along with five strikeouts.

With the game scoreless and two outs in the bottom of the third inning, Bloomsburg took a 1-0 lead on a solo home run to left field from OFier.

The Warriors responded with two runs on two hits and took advantage of an extra out to take the 2-1 advantage in the top of the fourth. Despite striking out to open the inning, Haverstick reached first on a wild pitch and Dunleavy followed with a base knock to left center. After a pair of Warriors' punchouts, Kauffman manufactured a walk which set up Stirr who doubled to left center, scoring Haverstick and Dunleavy.

Following Johnson being relieved headed into the bottom of the sixth, the Huskies got the Warriors bullpen for six runs on five hits and used an error to take a 7-2 lead. ESU would have a chance in the top of the seventh but Logan Hile was called on to record the final three outs.

Up Next
The Warriors return to Creekview Park on Monday when they welcome the Huskies for a pair of seven-inning games beginning at 12 p.m.