BENSALEM, Pa. -- With two shutouts victories against Holy Family, the East Stroudsburg University softball team extended its winning streak to 11, matching a 1976 program record at Bensalem High School on Tuesday afternoon.

The Warriors (15-1) have now 15 of its first 16 games this season, while the Tigers drop to 2-12.

ESU's pitching staff did not allow a run on the day, as Katie Zaun threw her first career shutout in game one in a 7-0 win, while Paige Zigmund and Leigh Ann Jenkins combined to allow just one hit against the Tigers in game two in the 5-0 win. With an RBI single in game two to cap the scoring, Ashley Spencer tied ESU Hall of Famer Jen Veronesi for the program-record in RBIs with 91.

Notables

• Brooke McKeown tallied four hits and three RBIs to lead the Warrior offense on the day. The freshman from Havertown continues to lead ESU in batting average with a .379 clip and 22 hits this season. She posted four stolen bases against the Tigers and has now stolen 13 bases in 14 attempts in 2022.
• Lexi Wright and Gianna Coyle each provided a pair of RBIs, while Denva Shaw-Tait (3-4), Ashley Spencer and Sofia Cecchin all posted a single RBI.
• Zaun (4-1) picked up her fourth win and tallied her first seven-inning shutout in her career in game one, striking out an impressive 13 batters. Zaun's 13 punchouts are the most for a freshman since at least 2002 and was just one strikeout away from tying the school record since 2002 (when single game records are available). In eight appearances this season, Zaun has recorded a 1.95 ERA, an .74 WHIP, striking out a team-best 45 batters in just 32.1 innings of work. She has issued just three walks and three extra base hits, and has held opponents to a batting average against of .183.
• Zigmund and Jenkins (3-0) combined for the one-hit shutout in game two, as the two combined for 10 strikeouts, two walks in the seven innings. Jenkins, who was named the PSAC East Pitcher of the Week on Monday, now has a 0.41 ERA on the season, with 31 strikeouts in 17 innings. She has held opponents to a team-best .155 batting average against.
• The ESU pitching staff combined to allow just five hits in 18 innings, striking out 23 and walking just two. The Warriors held the Tigers to a .106 batting average on the day.
• The 1976 team defeated Ithaca (2x), Trenton State, Hofstra, Temple, Springfield, West Chester, Glassboro State, West Chester, Montclair State and South Carolina, before falling Arizona State at the EAIAW National Championships. The 1976 squad finished 17-4, falling to Missouri in its final game.
• Among Division II teams, ESU's current 11-game winning streak ranks fifth nationally. Only CUI (25), West Florida (15), Colorado Mesa (15) and Chico State (W12) have longer winning streaks.
• Along with the program-matching 11-game winning streak, ESU also tied its shutout streak with three consecutive shutouts (3/11 8-0 vs. Nyack, 3/15 7-0 vs. HFU, 3/15 5-0 vs. HFU). The Warriors have done this four times, most recently in 2007.

How It Happened - Game One

• The Warriors built an early lead as Shaw-Tait sent a two-out bases loaded RBI single to left field to score McKeown. ESU could not get any additional runs in the frame, as Nies was thrown out at home on the play for the third out.
• Zaun stranded a pair of Tigers that reached base via singles, as the Allentown native struck out three batters in the bottom of the 1st.
• The Warriors put together a big inning in the top of the fourth, padding its lead with four runs on three hits to take a 5-0 lead. Donaghue scored a run off an error, while Wright followed with an RBI double. Coyle closed the scoring in the inning with a two RBI double, scoring McKeown and Wright on the play.
• Cecchin lifted ESU to a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the 6th, scoring Wright on a fielder's choice.
• Wright posted a second RBI in game one in the top of the 7th on a single up the middle, scoring pinch-runner Madison Chapman. After Wright stole second, the Warriors had the game-ending runner in scoring position, but could not send her home in the inning.
• Zaun completed her second complete game of her career after forcing a pair of ground outs and her 13th strikeout of the contest, as ESU earned a 7-0 win in the opening game.

How It Happened - Game Two

• The Warriors threatened in the top of the 1st, with a McKeown bunt single and a Vicendese double, but back-to-back strikeouts prevented a run from scoring.
• ESU struck in its next at bats, scoring three runs on three hits and two errors. Shaw-Tait scored a run on a passed ball, while McKeown single down the left field line scored a pair of ESU runs. The Warriors led 3-0 after two frames.
• With Zigmund and Jenkins taking care of business in the circle, ESU added to its lead in the top of the 4th. McKeown drove in her third run of the game, this time with a single up the middle to score Wright.
• Spencer tied the ESU career RBI record in her last at bat on the day, singling home Reilly Vicendese to lift the Warriors to a 5-0 lead.
• Jenkins struck out the side swinging in the bottom of the 7th, as ESU took both games from Holy Family by a combined score of 12-0.

Up Next

 The Warriors look to set a new program-record winning streak at Creekview Park this Saturday, March 19 when ESU hosts Jefferson in a non-conference twin bill at Vigon International Field. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. against the Rams.