STROUDSBURG – With the help of five runs on seven hits in the bottom of the sixth inning, the 12th-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball team defeated Shippensburg, 7-5, in their Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opener on Friday afternoon at Creekview Park.
The Warriors improve to 18-4 on the season and 1-0 in the PSAC while the Raiders drop to 6-16 overall and 1-3 in conference play.
Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, the Warriors rattled off seven consecutive one-out hits to score five runs, which ultimately gave them a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Jeremy Piatkiewicz got the rally started with a double before coming around to tie the game at 2-2 on a Brainy Rojas single.
With runners in scoring position, Brock Kauffman put ESU ahead by on an RBI base knock and Anthony Torreullas followed with a two-run single. Tim Haverstick extended the Warriors' edge to 6-2 on a one-bagger that plated Torreullas.
CJ Peechatka paced ESU offensively as he recorded his second 4-for-4 performance in as many games, notching his fifth home run of the season to go along with three singles, two RBI and a run scored.
In relief, Justin Guidos (3-0) picked up his third victory of the year after firing 4.0 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits and striking out one. Getting the start, Chase Nowak earned his third straight no-decision after pitching 5.0 innings, yielding one run on four hits while punching out four.
Notables
- Kauffman is closing in on a pair of school records as he sits tied for the top spot in doubles at 46 with Chriss Knott (2011-14). The Blue Ball, Pa. native is now at 139 career RBI which is only seven 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 eighth all-time in career runs with 134.
- ESU failed to record a stolen base for just the second game this season
How it Happened
After a scoreless first inning, the Warriors jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Peechatka crushed the second pitch he saw over the center field fence.
Shippensburg answered with a run of their own in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game at 1-1. JuJu Cason led off with an infield single before moving up 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt and ultimately coming around to score on an RBI base knock from Matt Schilling.
The Raiders went ahead for the first time all afternoon after using four hits to plate one run in the top of the sixth inning. Andrew Chronister delivered the run-scoring base hit to make the game 2-1.
In the home half of the inning, ESU answered by using a one-out rally that featured five runs on seven hits to regain a 6-2 lead. Piatkiewicz kick started the Warriors with a double before coming around to score on a single from Rojas to tie the game at 2-2. Then with runners on second and third, Kauffman gave ESU a 3-2 lead and Torreullas followed with a two-run single to put the Warriors up three runs. Haverstick capped of the frame with another RBI single.
Shippensburg cut their deficit in half to 6-3 in the top of the seventh as an ESU error with two outs allowed Justin Byler to race home.
In the top of seventh, the Raiders got within in two as Justin Darden led off with a home run to left field to make the score 6-4.
ESU got the run right back in the bottom half of the inning as Peechatka collected his fourth hit of the afternoon. Peechatka produced an RBI single that plated Piripavel, who got hit by a pitch to start the frame.
In their final at-bats, Jafari Williams started off with a double and came around to home on the second out of the inning to make the final score 7-5.
Up Next
ESU continues their series with the Raiders on the road tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at noon from Fairchild Field.
