KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The East Stroudsburg University softball team won their third consecutive elimination game to advance to tomorrow's championship game at the NCAA Atlantic Regional. After falling to West Liberty in their opener, ESU defeated the Hilltoppers 4-2 in the final game of the day at North Campus Field.

The Warriors (29-15) advance to their first ever Atlantic Regional Championship in program history and will face third-seeded West Chester tomorrow at 1 p.m. ESU must defeat the Golden Rams twice in order to capture the championship. The second game would be played at 3:30 p.m. if necessary.

29 wins this season by the Warriors ties the school record which was set back in 2007. 

Leigh Ann Jenkins (9-6) was stellar in the circle one again as she fired her second complete game in as many days. The junior allowed just two run on seven hits and struck out four for her seventh complete game of the season.

On offense, the Warriors scored one run in four different innings, using small ball in both the fourth and sixth innings to generate those runs. Molly Nies and Ashley Spencer combined to go 4-for-6 with two runs scored and one RBI. Kaitlin Houser and Marissa Govan also each recorded a hit for the Warriors.

ESU jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a pair of hits in the bottom of the first inning. Nies led off with a single before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from Reilly Vicendese and then to third on a stolen base. With two-outs, Spencer delivered a clutch bloop single down the right field line that plated Nies to give the Warriors the lead. Sofia Cecchin was coming home on the play for the second run but was thrown out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Warriors worked a pair of two out walks and took advantage of fielding error by the Hilltoppers to extend their advantage to 2-0. Govan and Rachel Seiverd both walked before a ground ball by Nies resulted in an error which allowed Govan to race home.

The Warriors would extend their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning on a sacrifice bunt from Seiverd that allowed Rachel Arner to cross the plate. Arner came on to pinch run for Houser, who led off the frame with a double.

West Liberty got on the board in the top of the sixth inning with one run on three hits to cut ESU's lead to 3-1. The Hilltoppers loaded the bases with one out when Sidney Little knocked a base hit into left field to plate West Liberty's first run of the game.

ESU answered in the bottom half of the inning with another excellent display of small ball to regain a 4-1 lead. Spencer got herself into scoring position after a lead off single and throwing error by the left field allowed her to get to second base. Houser then delivered a sacrifice bunt to move Spencer up 90 feet before Govan followed with infield single on a bunt to score Spencer.

West Liberty would not go quietly in the top of the seventh inning as Kate Donzella smashed a one-out solo home run to right field to make the score 4-2. Jenkins would then induce a pair of ground ball outs to clinch the victory for the Warriors.

ESU will take on West Chester tomorrow in the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship beginning at 1 p.m. from North Campus Field. If needed, a second game will be played at 3:30 p.m. with a ticket to the NCAA DII Championships on the line.