STROUDSBURG – Despite trailing 1-0 after the top of the first inning of each game, the East Stroudsburg University baseball team extended its winning streak to 10 after defeating USciences, 4-3 and 15-7 (F/8) in a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at Creekview Park.
ESU is off to their best start since the 2020 season as their record sits at 11-2 overall while the Devils fall to 2-7.
ESU's 10-game winning streak matches marks set in 2011, 2016 and 2016 and the Warriors are just one victory from tying the program record.
In the opener, the Warriors recorded just two hits but took advantage of six walks and an error by USciences to hold off the Devils by a final score of 4-3. Ben Piripavel and Anthony Torreullas supplied the offense with two runs batted in a piece while Justin Guidos (2-0) picked up the win after firing 4.1 innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out three.
The Warriors' bats came alive in the finale as ESU used 15 hits, which included four home runs, to slug their way past the Devils, 15-7 in a darkness shorted game. Drew Hefner highlighted the long balls with a grand slam while Tommy Dunleavy had a two-run blast. Piripavel and Anthony Torreullas each had solo shots.
Hefner finished game two 3-for-5 with five RBI and two runs scored while Dunleavy was 3-for-5 with three RBI, four runs and two walks.
Pitching in relief, JP Nolan earned his victory of the season after throwing 4.0 inning, yielding two runs on five hits and striking out four.
Notables
- Scott Shamany was credited with his second save of the season in game one
- ESU finished the day 10-for-10 on stolen bases to move their season total to 45-of-49
- With a pair of doubles in game two, Kauffman moved into second all-time with 45 and is just one shy of tying the school record. The Blue Ball, Pa. native has also reached base safely in 11 consecutive games
How it Happened – Game One
USciences took advantage of an unfortunate bounce in the top of the first inning to jump out to a 1-0 lead. With one out, Eddie Parry sent drive into deep left field and with Piripavel right up against the wall, the ball bounced off his glove and over the fence to put the Devils ahead.
It didn't take long for the Warriors to answer as they used a leadoff walk and double in the home half of the first to grab a 2-1 advantage. Rojas led off with a free pass before advancing to second on a stolen base and eventually coming around to score on a Piripavel double to left field. After advancing to third, Piripavel raced home on an RBI groundout from Torreullas.
ESU took advantage of a USciences error to open the bottom of the second inning as they pushed their lead to 3-1. Victor Cruz was aboard second after a throw from the Devils went down the right field line and moved to third on a fielder's choice. With one out, Piripavel sent a fly ball to right field that allowed Cruz to tag up for the Warriors third run.
The Warriors manufactured an insurance run on two walks and no hits in the bottom of the fifth inning to push their edge to 4-1. Piripavel and Kauffman each worked a free pass before moving into scoring position on a double steal. Torreullas followed with a sacrifice fly center field that allowed Piripavel to make his way home for a run.
USciences chipped away in the top of the sixth inning by taking advantage of a leadoff single from Evan Sinclair to make the score 4-2 but with a chance to tack on more runs, the Warriors turned a 6-4-3 double play.
In their final at-bats, USciences got a one-out triple from AJ Pena before he crossed home on an RBI groundout to get the Devils within one at 4-3. However, Shamany got the final two outs without any threat.
How it Happened – Game Two
It was de-ja-vu for the Devils to open the second game as a one-out home run off the bat of Eddie Parry to right-center field put USciences in front 1-0.
Similar to the first game, the Warriors responded with a run in their first at-bats as Pirpival sent the ball over the right field fence to tie the game at 1-1.
The Devils would regain the lead in the top of the second with four runs on five hits to make the score 5-1 in their favor. Joe Duffy highlighted the frame with a two-run double that put USciences up 4-1 at the time.
ESU got two runs back in the home half of the second inning to cut their deficit to 5-3. Cooper Gehring brought home Dunleavy on a blooper into center field. After stealing second and advancing to third on a USciences' botched pickoff attempt, Gehring scored on a sacrifice fly from Piatkiewicz.
In the bottom of the third inning, ESU scored four hits and six runs to retake a 9-5 lead over the Devils. With one out, the Warriors loaded the bases to set up Hefner, who provided the exclamation point in the frame with a grand slam to put ESU back ahead 8-5. The Warriors added an additional run in the frame, as Gehring stole third base and crossed home plate after an error by the Devils' third baseman.
The Warriors scored for the fourth consecutive inning in the bottom of the fourth, as Dunleavy smashed a two-run home run to center field.
USciences clawed their way back in the top of the sixth with a pair of runs on back-to-back RBI singles to make it an 11-7 contest.
ESU countered in the home half of the sixth, with three consecutive doubles off the bats of Haverstick. Dunleavy and Hefner. The Warriors added an additional run in the inning via a Piripavel sacrifice fly to left field to make it a 14-7 game in favor of ESU.
Torreullas closed the scoring with a solo home run to left field to leadoff the bottom of the seventh.
The game was called after the top of the 8th, due to darkness.
Up Next
The Warriors are back at Creekview Park on Saturday for a four-game weekend series against Ohio Dominican beginning at 11 a.m.
