SLIPPERY ROCK – With the game tied 3-3 in the top of the seventh inning, redshirt seniors Brock Kauffman and Anthony Torreullas each delivered two-out RBI hits to spark the East Stroudsburg University baseball team past Gannon, 11-3 in the opening round of the 2022 PSAC Tournament at Jack Critchfield Park.
On their way to winning their first PSAC Tournament game since 2016, the Warriors improve to 35-15 on the season while the Golden Knights fall to 29-15. The Warriors will take on Mercyhurst tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the double elimination portion of the tournament.
The ESU offensive finished with 12 hits on the night, including seven for extra bases while also exploding for six runs in the top of the ninth inning.
Torreullas was red hot at the plate as the New Holland, Pa. native finished 4-for-5 with his ninth home run of the season, a double, four RBI and four runs scored. The long ball from Torreullas was the 21st of his career which moves him into a tie for second all-time in program history.
Redshirt senior Brainy Rojas went 3-for-5 with a walk, a RBI and a run while Kauffman had a triple and double to go with a pair of RBI. Tommy Dunleavy recorded a pair of hits including his seventh home run of the year.
Pitching In relief, redshirt senior Nate Fiala earned the victory after going 3.2 innings, allowing one hit while striking out four. Brent Francisco started on the mound, throwing 5.1 innings, surrendering three runs on four hits to go with seven punch outs. The redshirt sophomore increased his PSAC-leading total to 109 which surpassed the single-season record of 105 set by Matt Festa back in 2016.
Notables
- CJ Peechatka reached base for a team-high 22nd straight game after drawing a walk
- Rojas scored the 154th run of his career to remain at fourth all-time in program history and still ranks second for stolen bases with 77
- Kauffman recorded his 214th career hit to move into alone at second all-time in school history and is 11 from breaking the school record of 224, set by Jacob DeBoer (2004-07)
- ESU swiped bases on the afternoon to increase their season total to 128, which ranks second in the PSAC and tied for sixth in all of NCAA Division II
- The Warriors move to 15-16 all-time in the PSAC Tournament as well as 4-1 against the Golden Knights
How it Happened
The Warriors took the first lead of the game in the top of the fourth inning as a pair of miscues by Gannon made the score 2-0. On a possible inning-ending double play ball, the Golden Knights threw the ball away at first, allowing Torreullas to come around and score after a one-out double. Then with runners on the corner, a wild pitch let Dunleavy race home to put ESU up by two.
Gannon cut ESU's advantage to 2-1 the bottom of the fifth as Ryan Kalbfus scored on a sacrifice fly from Jared Bielanin after leading off the inning with a ground-rule double.
Torreullas helped ESU regain a two run lead in the top of the sixth inning as the redshirt junior launched a solo home run over the left field fence to make the score 3-1.
The Golden Knights answered in the home of half of the inning, using two hits and a pair of hit by pitches to tie the game at 3-3. With one out and the bases loaded Wetherholt doubled to center field to plate both runs for Gannon.
The Warriors would use a two-out rally in their next at-bats to regain the lead at 5-3. Kauffman got ESU started with a triple to right field to score Rojas and with runners on the corners, Torreullas singled home his second run of the night.
In the top of the ninth inning, ESU put the game out of reach with six runs on four hits to make the final score 11-6. Kauffman doubled home the first score and Torreullas brought home two more on his second two bagger to put the Warriors up 8-3. Torreullas would ultimately cross home plate on a wild pitch and Dunleavy followed with a solo home run to left field. Rojas would cap off the frame with a RBI double that plated Haverstick.
Up Next
The Warriors battle the Lakers tomorrow at 2 p.m. from Slippery Rock. The winner moves on to the semifinals on Friday while the loser returns for an elimination game at 7 p.m.
