WILSON, N.C. –The East Stroudsburg University baseball team traveled to North Carolina for an opening day doubleheader against Barton, and the Warriors rallied for a 6-3 victory in game two after dropping game one, 5-3 at Nixon Field.

Down to their final three outs and trailing 3-2, Brock Kauffman delivered a two-run RBI double to give the Warriors the lead and Anthony Torreullas singled to left field for a pair of insurance runs in ESU's first win of the season.

Notables

- After missing most of last season, Torreullas finished the day with four hits, three RBI and three runs as well as his 12th career home run in game one

- Seven other Warriors collected one hit on the afternoon including Kauffman, Brainy Rojas, Ben Piripavel, Tim Haverstick, Tommy Dunleavy (HR), Jerome Repetz and Victor Cruz

- Mike Yates (0-1) was handed the loss in the opener while starter Chase Nowak earned a no-decision after allowing two runs on four hits through 4.0 innings of work

- Jack Nielsen (1-0) was credited with his first career win after surrendering two runs (one earned) across 3.0 innings of relief for starter Tommy Resigner, who went 6.0 innings while allowing just one run on three hits and striking out six

How it Happened – Game One

Barton jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning after a pair of singles set up an RBI groundout by the Bulldogs' James Holladay. The Warriors turned a double play on the grounder to help limit further damage.

Following Nowak issuing a one-out walk, Colby Warren doubled to deep left field to give Barton a 2-0 lead. After Warren moved up 90 feet on the second out, Nowak got a fly out to left field to end the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Warriors cut their deficit in half when Torreulas blasted the Warriors first home run of the season with one out to make the score 2-1 in the top of the fifth.

When the Bulldogs came to bat in the bottom of the inning, they proceeded to score three runs on three hits and the help of two ESU answer to push their edge to 5-1.

In the top of the seventh, ESU would not go down without a fight as a one-out single from Torreullas allowed Dunleavy to crush the first pitch he saw to left field to make the final score 5-3.

How it Happened – Game Two

After a scoreless first inning, ESU scratched across a run on just one hit to grab a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Torreullas delivered a one-out single before Dunleavy and Tommy Ajjan were hit by pitches to load the bases. In his first career start, Shane Fillman worked a full count before being walked with two outs to bring home Torreullas.

Barton answered in the home half of the inning to tie the game at 1-1 following a sacrifice fly from Luke Chung. The Bulldogs were able to load the bases with one out following a single, hit by pitch and walk but Reisinger got a flyout to end the inning

In the top of the third, ESU took advantage of a Barton error to grab a 2-1 advantage. Piripavel and Kauffman were aboard with one out when Torreullas grounded into a fielder's choice but as the Bulldogs were twisting the double play, the shortstop threw the ball away which allowed Piripavel to race home.

Reisinger was relieved in bottom of the seventh inning and the Bulldogs took advantage of two errors to scrap together two runs on one hit to regain a 3-2 lead. With runners on the corner, a one-out walk was issued before Dylan Scaranda got plunked to tie the game at 2-2. Neilson was able to get Ryan McIsaac to fly out to left field, but it was deep enough for the runner to tag up for the go ahead run.

Down to their final three outs in the top of the ninth inning, the Warriors exploded for four runs on four hits to grab a lead they would never give back. The rally started with a Repetz single to center, followed by a Rojas walk before a single by Piripavel set up Kauffman for a two-run double. After an out, Torreullas added two more runs on a single to make the score 6-3 in favor of ESU.

Up Next

The Warriors close out the weekend series against Barton with a single nine-inning game tomorrow at Nixon Field. First-pitch is now set for 11 a.m. due to the potential of inclement weather.