EAST STROUDSBURG – The East Stroudsburg University baseball team opened their four-game series with a pair wins over Saint Rose in a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Creekview Park.
The Warriors (4-2) thumped the Golden Knights in the opener, using 15 hits in a 18-1 triumph, before hanging on for a 3-2 victory in game two as Saint Rose opened their 2023 campaign 0-2.
Notables
- The reigning PSAC East freshman of the Year was on fire at the dish as Jack Rothenhausler finished 4-for-5 with a double, his first home run of the season, five runs batted in and three runs scored
- Cameron Hubbard continued to make an immediate impact as the junior transfer went 2-for-5 with three runs scored and a RBI
- Catching all 14 innings this afternoon, freshman Connor Reilly was an impressive 2-for-3 with three walks, three RBI and two runs
- Junior Matt Ervolina was 2-for-5 but reached base a total of four times with a pair of hit by pitches to go along with two RBI and two runs scored
- Graduate student Victor Cruz registered a pair of RBI and one hit while making starts at third base in both games
- In the opener, five different ESU pitchers limited the Golden Knights to one run on four hits. Graduate student Chase Nowak (1-1) went 2.0 innings with three strikeouts to earn the victory and Nick McAuliffe followed with a scoreless 2.0 innings and a trio of punchouts. Ben Junker, Patrick Yoder and Vincent Cenname each pitched an inning in relief.
- Making his first collegiate start, Ryan Dewees was exceptional in game two as the freshman threw 5.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out six. McAuliffe returned for another appearance out of the bullpen, pitching the final two innings to collect his second save of the season.
- ESU created issues for Saint Rose on the base paths as the Warriors used their speed to go a perfect 9-for-9 on stolen base attempts. Juniors Ben Piripavel and Jeremy Piatkiewicz paced ESU with two apiece. On the season, the Warriors are now 18-of-19 on stolen bases
- Nowak continues to re-write the record book as he notched his 39th career start, moving into a tie for first all-time with Jeremy Gigliotti (2007-11) and Mark Cannon (1982-85). The Wilkes-Bare native registered his 229th career strikeout today, needing 10 more to set the program's career record currently held by Gigliotti (238). With his 20th career victory, Nowak is four away from passing former ESU standout and current Seattle Mariners reliever Matt Festa (23-7, 2014-16).
- In this week's NCBWA NCAA Division II Top 25, the Warriors were receiving votes. In the NCBWA Atlantic Region Poll, the Warriors dropped to No. 3
How it Happened – Game One (ESU 18, Saint Rose 1)
ESU jumped on the Golden Knights early using two hits, four walks and four stolen bases to take a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Piripavel got the Warriors started with a walk before stealing second and third. After Piatkiewicz drew a free pass, Hubbard singled through the left side to get ESU on the board. Rothenhausler brought in the second run of the frame for the Warriors with an infield hit and with the bases loaded, both Reilly and Cruz worked six-pitch walks to make the score 4-0.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Warriors stretched their advantage to 7-0 with three runs on a trio of hits. Ervolina got plunked by the first pitch before coming around to score on a triple from Kelly to right center field which pushed ESU's edge to 5-0. Reilly made the score 6-0 after collecting his second RBI of the afternoon with a base hit up the middle. After he proceeded to steal second, the Warriors executed a hit and run to perfection as Cruz singled through the left side to put ESU up by seven runs.
The Warriors continued to swing a hot stick in the home half of the fourth inning as the offense tacked on three runs with four hits. Hubbard rolled a single up the middle before Rothenhausler poked a double down the left field to put ESU ahead 8-0. After Rothenhausler swiped third, Ervolina punched a base hit into right field to make the score 9-0. With two outs and runners on the corners,
Tommy Ajjan notched an RBI single to put ESU up by double digit runs at 10-0.
ESU put the game out reach in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Warriors scratched out eight runs on six hits to extend their lead to 18-0. With
Tanner Vicendese on third after pinch running for Piatkiewicz, the freshman raced home on a wild pitch to make the score 11-0. With runners on the corners, Ervolina singled home
Parker Frey after he recorded a pinch hit double to put ESU up 12-0. Then with the bases loaded, Reilly and
Jack Chapman each collected RBI on walks to give the Warriors a 14-0 edge. The onslaught continued for ESU with an RBI base hit from
Colin Houck and a sacrifice fly from
Chaise Albus to give the Warriors a 16-0 cushion. ESU capped off the scoring in the frame with a ground-rule double from Vicendese and an RBI groundout from Frey to make the score 18-0.
In their final at-bats, Sean Butkowski got the Golden Knights on the scoreboard with a solo home run to right field.
How it Happened – Game Two (ESU 3, Saint Rose 2)
In similar fashion to the opener, the Warriors jumped on Saint Rose early with one run on two hits in the bottom of the first inning. Piripavel blooped a double into center field before advancing to third on a bunt single from Piatkiewicz. Then with one out, Rothenhausler delivered a sacrifice fly to right field to make the score 1-0 in favor ESU.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Golden Knights tied it up at 1-1 on a solo blast to left field from Nathan Toms.
The Warriors answered right back in the bottom half of the inning as Rothenhausler crushed a two-run home run to put ESU back in front, 3-1. Hubbard set the table for the sophomore with a walk to lead off the frame.
Saint Rose made it interesting in the top of the seventh inning as the Golden Knights scored one run on two hits and had the game-tying runner in scoring position. With runners on the corners and one out, the Warriors made a fielding error to make the score 3-2 but McAuliffe responded by striking out Saint Rose's Jaden Fowler for the final out of the game.
Up Next
The Warriors close out the four game series against the Golden Knights tomorrow with the twin bill getting underway at 11 a.m. from Creekview Park
