KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- The East Stroudsburg University softball team saw its program record 17-game win streak snapped in game one, but responded to defeat Kutztown in game two to salvage a split ( 3-1, 6-3) in its first PSAC East doubleheader of the season on Saturday afternoon at North Campus Field.

The Warriors are now 22-2 in 2022 and are 1-1 in conference action. The Golden Bears are 17-9, 1-1 in conference play.

ESU is just eight wins away from breaking its wins in a season record of 29, with 18 scheduled games as of writing.

Notables

• In her first PSAC action since April 28, 2019, Denva Shaw-Tait provided three RBIs, registering a double. Molly Nies, Ashley Spencer and Reilly Vicendese also brought Warriors home.
• Brooke McKeown (4-7) continued her hot start to her freshman season with four singles, while also reaching base via a walk. She raises her batting average to a team-best .438. She scored a pair of runs and also stole a base.
• Sofia Cecchin (3-7) and Nies (3-7) collected three hits each and each scored a run.  
• In the circle, Leigh Ann Jenkins led the way in game two (W, 6-0), scattering five hits over six innings for her sixth win of the season. Katie Zaun (L, 6-2) suffered the loss in game one, but held the Golden Bears to a .190 batting average in the complete game. She saw her 29-inning scoreless streak come to an end in the first inning and allowed two earned runs, striking out six.

• ESU looked to strike early with a leadoff single by McKeown, but the freshman and Cecchin would be stranded on first and second. Zaun got the first two batters out that she faced, but her scoreless streak ended at 29.2 innings after a two-out solo home run from Kate Ostaszewski.
• Bother pitchers stymied the opponents batters, with neither team able to score until the ESU half of the sixth inning. ESU evened the score with a sacrifice fly off the bat of Shaw-Tait, scoring Cecchin who reached base via a single. Spencer was also in scoring position after previously smacking a double, but could not cross home plate in the inning.
• Unfortunately for ESU, the contest would not be tied for long. KU took advantage of an error and two singles, using a pair of back-to-back sacrifice flys to take a 3-1 lead.
• The Warriors went down in order in its final at bats to fall for the first time in 17 games, by a score of 3-1.

How it Happened - Game Two

• It didn't take long for ESU to get the bats going in game two, striking for two runs in the first inning and responded with four in the second.
• After back-to-back singles from ESU to start the contest, Shaw-Tait sent a single up to the middle with two-outs to score a pair of Warriors. Paige Zigmund got the start in game two and sent the first three Golden Bears down in order.
• ESU padded its lead with a four-run second inning, using three hits and an error to its advantage. With runners on second and third with one out, Nies sent a single to center to make it 3-0 in favor of ESU. Vicendese followed with a bunt single to the pitcher. McKeown scored on the bunt, while Nies was able to score on the error by the KU shortstop later in the play.
• The big inning for the Warriors continued, as Spencer smacked a single to left field to score Reilly Vicendese with two outs. ESU suddenly grabbed a 6-0 advantage.
• The Golden Bears responded immediately in the bottom of the 2nd with a walk and back-to-back home runs, as suddenly the score was 6-3. Jenkins would come in and get all three outs in the inning to escape the frame with limited damage.
• Both squads combined for seven hits after the second inning, as pitching and defense took over for both squads.
• With ESU still leading at 6-3 in the bottom of the 7th, Jenkins allowed a one-out double, but would get the final two outs without a runner scoring, completing an impressive six innings of work for the win.

Up Next

• ESU jumps out of conference to face Chestnut Hill on the road on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is set for noon and 2:00 p.m. in Philadelphia.  
• The Warriors return to Creekview Park on Fri., April 8 against Shippensburg.