LOCK HAVEN – The East Stroudsburg University baseball team scored seven runs in the first two innings to help defeat Lock Haven, 17-5, in the PSAC East series opener on Friday afternoon at Watkins Field.
The Warriors moved to 30-13 on the season and 11-8 in the PSAC East while the Bald Eagles dropped to 9-27 and 2-17 in the conference. Since head coach John Kochmansky's arrival, ESU has now produced 30+ win campaigns on six different occasions and for the first time since 2019 (2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2022).
ESU jumped on Lock Haven early, using six hits and two errors from the Bald Eagles to score seven runs through the first two innings. The Warriors, who finished with 15 hits and 12 walks, tacked on 10 runs the rest of the way, including five in their final at-bats.
Chase Nowak (6-0) remained undefeated after pitching 4.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five. Nate Fiala pitched in relief the rest of the way, yielding three runs on four hits to go along with five punch outs in 5.0 innings.
CJ Peechatka finished 2-for-3 with his 7th and 8th home runs, three walks, three RBI and four runs. Brock Kauffman (four runs, two RBI), Anthony Torreullas (two runs, one RBI, two walks) and Jack Rothenhausler (three runs, three RBI,) each had three hits apiece for the Warriors.
Redshirt senior Tommy Dunleavy crushed his sixth home run of the season on two-run blast and Jeremy Piatkiewicz recorded a pair of base knocks to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.
Notables
- Nowak eclipsed the 200 strikeout mark in his career to become just the sixth pitcher in program history to reach that milestone. The Wilkes-Barre, Pa. natives' 204 K's now rank fourth all-time
- Kauffman recorded his 200th career hit in his final at-bat, becoming the seventh player in school history to accomplish that feat and moving up to seventh all-time in the record books.
- Brainy Rojas remained at 150 career runs for fifth all-time in program history and is still second for stolen bases with 75
- Ben Piripavel stretched his team-high on-base streak to 20 games after reaching four times
- The Warriors swiped six stolen bases to push their season total to 118 which ranks second in the PSAC and fifth in all NCAA Division II
- ESU worked 12 walks, marking the fifth game this season the Warriors have drawn double-digit free passes
- Head Coach John Kochmansky needs just one more victory for the 400th of his career after picking up No. 399 this afternoon
How it Happened
ESU jumped on Lock Haven early, using three hits and a trio of walks to make the score 3-0 in the top of the first inning. Piripavel got the Warriors started with a walk, before crossing home plate on a single from Kauffman for the game's first run. After Peechatka worked a free pass, Torreullas singled up the middle to make the score 2-0. ESU added their third run when Peechatka scampered home on a passed ball.
The Warriors stretched their advantage to 7-0 in the top of the second as three hits and two Lock Haven errors led to four more runs. With runners on first and second and two outs, Kauffman laced a double down the left field line and all three runners ultimately came around to score on a throwing mistake by the Bald Eagles. Peechatka capped off the inning for ESU with a solo blast to center field.
Lock Haven responded in the bottom of the third inning with three runs on two hits to cut their deficit to 7-2. With runners in scoring position, Jake Mastillo delivered a single to left center field to bring home the pair.
Rothenhausler got a run right back for ESU in the top of the fifth inning as he reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and came around to score on a passed ball to put ESU up six, 8-2.
After the Warriors loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth, Rothenhausler produced a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed Kuaffman and Peechatka to score, before Torreullas crossed home plate on Lock Haven's third error of the game to make the score 11-3 in favor of ESU.
The Bald Eagles battled back in the home half of the frame as three hits led to three runs, which trimmed ESU's advantage to 11-5. Cameron Kutchey got Lock Haven started with an RBI triple and Justin Lichtenwalner knocked in a pair on single to center field to get the Bald Eagles within six runs.
ESU tacked a run in the top of the eighth as Rothenhausler led off the inning with a double before coming around to score on a sacrifice fly from Tim Haverstick, which put ESU ahead 12-5.
The Warriors added five insurance runs in their final at-bats as Peetchatka brought home a pair on his second home run of the day. Rothenhausler followed with an RBI double, and Dunleavy capped off the inning with a two-run blast to make the final score 17-5.
Up Next
ESU is back at Creekview Park tomorrow with a doubleheader against the Bald Eagles beginning at noon. The Warriors will honor their 2022 senior class prior to the opener.
