STROUDSBURG – Highlighted by redshirt senior Brainy Rojas' walk-off home run in game one, the East Stroudsburg University baseball team completed the weekend sweep of Ohio Dominican (5-3, 4-3) to stretch their winning streak to a program-best 14 games on Sunday at Creekview Park.
Through their first 17 contests, the Warriors sit at 15-2 overall while the Panthers dropped to 5-6. ESU is off to arguably its best start of the season since they went 18-2 through the first 20 games back in 2016.
In the opener, the Panthers tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the seventh, but Jeremy Piatkiewicz led off ESU's at-bats by getting hit by a pitch to put the game-winning run aboard. With the top of the lineup due up, Rojas took a strike before sending the next pitch over the left field fence for his first home run of the season to win the game 5-3 for the Warriors.
The walk-off home run was the first for the Warriors since Laine Renaud delivered a blast against Saint Rose back in 2018.
In the series finale, the game was tied at 3-3 headed into the bottom of the sixth inning as the Warriors turned to the middle of their order for the go ahead run. Following an Anthony Torreullas single and a Tommy Dunleavy walk, Jack Rothenhausler hit a one-out grounder to second base. As the Panthers looked to turn the double play, the throw to first was airmailed which allowed Torreullas to score to put ESU ahead for good 4-3.
Despite the no-decision in game one, Brent Francisco was dealing as he allowed two runs on six hits while striking out seven in 6.0 innings of work.
In his second career start, Jack Neilsen picked up the game two victory after pitching 5.0 innings in which he allowed three runs on four hits to go along with three punch outs. Scott Shamany was credited with his third save of the season after a clean seventh inning.
Cooper Gehring went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in game one while Rojas (2) and Torreullas each added RBI.
Four different Warriors collected a hit in the final game of the weekend and Torreullas, Rothenhausler and Victor Cruz were credited with an RBI each.
Notables
- Gehring is riding a team-best eight game hitting and on-base streak
- As a team, the Warriors raised their batting average to .302 after the weekend
- The Warriors went 4-for-4 on stolen bases to raise their season total to 51-of-57
How it Happened – Game One
ESU jumped on Ohio Dominican in bottom of the first inning as a one-out triple from Ben Piripavel set up Brock Kauffman for an RBI chance which delivered he on with a sacrifice fly to right field to make the score 1-0
The Panthers evened the game at 1-1 in the top of the third inning as Brennen Hunt came around to score following a leadoff single. Hunt stole second and third before racing home on a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Warriors regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, using just one hit and taking advantage of a Panthers' error to plate a pair of runs. Tim Haverstick walked on four straight pitches to open the frame and advanced to second after an errant throw on a potential double play ball. After both runners advanced 90 feet, Gehring sent a rocket down the third baseline to bring home Haverstick and Dunleavy to make the score 3-1.
Ohio Dominican got one run right back in the top of the sixth inning as Michael Knapp drove a 0-1 pitch to deep right field for a home run to get the Panthers within one at 3-2.
In their final at-bats, the Panthers utilized a pair of doubles to even the game at 3-3 as Hunt brought home the game-tying run.
With one out in the home half of the seventh, Piatkiewicz was hit by pitch to put the winning run aboard for Rojas, who crushed the second pitch he saw over the left field fence to give ESU the 5-3 victory.
How it Happened – Game Two
ESU grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning as three consecutive hits from Dunleavy, Rothenhausler and Cruz plated the first twos runs of the game. Dunleavy got the Warriors started with a single before stealing second and coming home on Rothenhausler's double, who came around to score on Cruz's base knock.
Ohio Dominican got one run back in the top of the third as the Panthers had runners on second and third with just one out before a fielder's choice scored Thomas Staab.
The Warriors responded in the home half of the inning with a score of their own to regain a two-run lead at 3-1. Piripavel walked to leadoff of the inning before advancing to second a stolen base and third on a fly out to center field. With just one out, Torreullas produced a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Piripavel to come home easily.
With one out in the top of the fifth inning, the Panthers were able to tie the game at 3-3 as a single from Jake Daniel setup Thomas Staab for a two-run home run to right field.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, ESU had runners on first and second when Rothenhausler seemed to ground into a double play before the throw from first sailed wide which allowed Torreullas to score ultimately the game-winning run to make the score 4-3.
Up Next
ESU is off during the week but returns to Creekview Park on Saturday and Sunday for a four-game weekend series against PSAC-West foe Pitt-Johnstown.
