PLEASANTVILLE, NY – The 19th ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball team fell to Pace 3-2 in a non-conference nine-inning game on Tuesday afternoon at Peter X. Finnerty Field.

In their final tune up game prior to PSAC play starting later this week, the Warriors go to 17-4 on the season while the Setters improve to 5-3.

The Warriors took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning, but Pace tied the game in the home half of the frame and ultimately scored the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth inning to secure the 3-2 victory.

Offensively, ESU was limited to five hits which included a 2-for-4 performance from Brainy Rojas as well as base knocks from Tommy Dunleavy, Drew Hefner and Cooper Gehring. Rojas and Ben Piripavel drove in the Warriors only two runs.

In a designed bullpen game for ESU, JP Nolan got the start, going 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out a pair.

Over the final five innings, the combination of Nate Fiala, Mike Yates, Justin Guidos and Brent Francisco yielded just one on three hits to go along with three punch outs.

Notables

- Brock Kauffman is closing in on a pair of school records as he sits tied for the top spot in doubles at 46 with Chris Knott (2011-14). The Blue Ball, Pa. native is at 138 career RBI which is only eight away from tying the school record of 146 also held by Knott.

- Rojas has now amassed 103 career walks which is seven shy of breaking the program record set by Ian Allen (109) from 2014-17. Rojas also moved up to seventh all-time in career runs with 133.

- ESU was limited to just one stolen base on the afternoon but still leads the PSAC and ranks seventh in the country with 62 on the season

How it Happened

Pace took advantage of a leadoff single in their opening at-bats to score the first run of the game as Matt Almonte delivered an RBI groundout to put the Setters ahead.

The Warriors grabbed the lead in top of the third inning by using a pair of hits and a Pace error to plate two runs. Gehring got the rally started with a one-out double before coming around to score on a Rojas two-bagger. Jeremy Piatkiewicz, who reached on an error by the Setters, put the Warriors in front 2-1 as he raced home on an RBI groundout by Piripavel.

The Setters wasted no time evening the game at 2-2 as three hits led to one run in the home half of the third. Nate Carminucci supplied a two-out single to plate Luke Jacobi and with the bases loaded, Nolan worked his way out of the jam for the Warriors.

After the first two batters were hit by pitches and each advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch, the Setters regained a 3-2 lead in bottom of the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly from Andrew Primm, which would score the game's final run.

Up Next

The Warriors begin PSAC play on Friday when Shippensburg makes their way to Creekview Park for a single nine-inning game at 2 p.m.