WEST CHESTER – The East Stroudsburg University baseball saw their historic 2022 season come to an end on Sunday as West Chester won both games of the doubleheader to eliminate the Warriors from the Atlantic Super Regional at Serpico Stadium. The Golden Rams forced a game three with a 5-3 victory in the opener before taking the winner-take-all 8-6.

The Warriors ended the season with a mark of 41-20 on their way to setting the school record for wins.

Check out post game comments below from 15th-year head coach John Kochmansky and sophomore shortstop Jeremy Piatkiewicz.
In the opener, which resumed in the bottom of the second inning following yesterday's postponement, the Golden Rams led 4-0 before a two-run blast from Brock Kauffman got the Warriors on the board. Redshirt senior Brainy Rojas pulled ESU within one on solo home run in the seventh, but West Chester added an insurance run to make the final score 5-3.

Rojas finished 2-for-5 with seventh home run of the season and his 14th of his career to go with a run scored. Kauffman went 1-for-5 with his 18th career long ball and two RBI.

In game two, the Golden Rams jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning before the Warriors answered with three runs in the second to take the lead. ESU pushed their advantage 6-2 in the top of the fifth before WCU cut the deficit to one in the home half of the inning. Then, despite not recording a hit in the bottom of the sixth inning the Golden Rams went back in front 7-6 before tacking on an insurance run the following frame.

Batting out of the No. 8 and No. 9 spots in the lineup, Tim Haverstick and Jeremy Piatkiewicz each went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Kauffman finished 2-for-4 after slugging his second home run of the day to go with an RBI and a run.

Notables
- CJ Peechatka finished his lone season with the Warriors by reaching base in the last 33 games of the season

- Brainy Rojas wrapped up his career with the school record for walks (134) and times reached base (338), while finishing tied for second in runs scored (162), second for stolen bases with 79 and third in games played at 194

- Kauffman concluded one of the best careers in program history by leaving with school records in hits (228), RBI (168), doubles (57), extra-base hits (84) and total bases (358). The Blue Ball, Pa. native played the second most games all-time at 199, slugged the fourth most home runs (19) and scored the sixth most runs (145)

- Torreullas finished his ESU career tied for second all-time in home runs with 21 and sixth in RBI (123)

- Redshirt senior Nate Fiala set the single-season record for games pitched with 27 and finished his career with 60 appearances, which ranks fourth in the all-time record books

- By pitching in the opener, Justin Guidos appeared in his 62nd career game which is tied for third-most in school history

- Jack Rothenhausler finished the season with ESU freshman records for hits (55), doubles (17), home runs (7), RBI (35), runs scored (36), extra base hits (26) and total bases (97)

- The Warriors finished the season with a program record 58 home runs, 140 stolen bases, innings pitch (502.1), and strikeouts (522)

- Going 4-3 over the last two weekends, the Warriors move to 9-11 all-time in the NCAA Tournament

How it Happened – Game One
The Golden Rams grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, taking advantage of an ESU error to score the first run of the game. With runners on first and second, the Warriors looked to turn a double play, but the relay throw sailed high, allowing Luke Cantwell to race home.

West Chester pushed their advantage to 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning after Cantwell deposited a two-run home run over the left field fence.

Cantwell stretched the Golden Rams' edge to 4-0 in the top of the fourth as Cantwell hit his second home run of the game to lead off the inning.

The Warriors answered in the home half of the inning as Ben Piripavel worked a four pitch walk to lead off, which set up Kauffman, who delivered a two-run home run to left center field to trim ESU's deficit to 4-2.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Rojas connected on a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence to pull the Warriors back within one run at 4-3.

After loading the bases with no outs in the top of the eighth inning, the Golden Rams got the run back to make the score 5-3 after an RBI single from Keith Flaherty. JP Nolan limited the damage for the Warriors be retiring the next three batters.

How it Happened – Game Two
With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, West Chester took a 2-0 lead on a two-run home run from Mike Ferrara.

The Warriors responded in a big way, using two hits and pair of walks to plate three runs in the top of the second inning. A hit by pitch and two free passes loaded the bases for Haverstick, who delivered a single to tie the game at 2-2. Piatkiewicz followed with an RBI single up the middle to put ESU ahead 3-2.

Kauffman helped stretch ESU's advantage to 4-2 in the top of the third as he crushed his second home run of the afternoon to lead off the inning.

ESU scored for the third consecutive inning, using three hits to push their lead to 6-2 in the top of the fourth. Piatkiewicz drove in Haverstick on an RBI triple for the first run before Rojas singled through the left side to put the Warriors up four.

The Golden Rams responded with three runs, using two hits and an ESU error to cut their deficit to 6-5. Flaherty drove in a pair on a single to right field and WCU got within one run after a throw behind the runner at second sailed into center field.

Despite not recording a hit in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Golden Rams scored twice to regain a 7-6 lead. WCU tied the game at 6-6 on a bases loaded walk and Zack Miles delivered a sacrifice fly to put the Golden Rams back in front.

The Golden Rams added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning to make the final score 8-6 after Zack Miles recorded an RBI single.  
 
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