STROUDSBURG,
Pa. – Taking on an NFCA preseason nationally-ranked team in its home opener, the East Stroudsburg University softball team came up just short in both games of the doubleheader, falling 6-5 in game one and 5-3 in game two on Monday afternoon at Creekview Park's Vigon International Field.
The Warriors fall to 2-6 on the season, while the Wildcats pick up two wins in their first action of 2023.
Notables
- Molly Nies (2-4, 2 runs) and Jada Smallwood (1-6, 2-run HR) both contributed a pair of RBIs to lead the offense. Denva Shaw-Tait (2-5, 1 2B), Brooke McKeown (2-5), Lexi Wright and Kaitlin Houser also produced a run batted in.
- Reilly Vicendese (3-7) paced ESU with three hits, including a pair of doubles. Shaw-Tait, Abigail Weirich (2-4, 2 runs), Nies and McKeown all tallied multiple hits.
- In the circle, Maddy Pritchard pitched the first 3.2 innings of game one, allowing four hits, two earned runs (three total), four walks, while striking out two in the no decision. Leigh Ann Jenkins (L, 0-1) was charged with the loss in the opening game, allowing five hits, two earned runs (three total), while giving up two walks and struck out three Wildcats.
- In game two, Morgan Chapman got the start (L, 0-2). She pitched the first four innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits, striking out two WU batters while giving up a walk. She held WU to hit .286. Paige Zigmund entered the game in the fifth inning and completed the final three innings. The Bethlehem native gave up four hits, two earned runs, while picking up a strikeout.
- The Warriors' pitching staff allowed just two extra base hits on the afternoon, with 15 of the 17 Wilmington hits resulting in singles.
Gallery: (2-20-2023) ESU Softball vs. Wilmington
How It Happened – Game 1
- The Wildcats used their speed and patience to open the scoring in its first at bats of the season. A bunt single, followed by two walks and three steals loaded the bases. Pritchard allowed a bases-loaded walk for the first run. Bri Coyle followed with a sacrifice fly for the second run of the contest.
- ESU could not counter in the bottom half of the inning, but tallied a walk and single in the frame.
- Pitchard settled in the second, getting the first two Wildcats out, before conceding a walk. Kaitlin Houser was able to end the inning early by throwing out a potential base stealer at second base.
- ESU's offense came to live in the second. A one-out single from Shaw-Tait was followed by a pair of walks. Brooke McKeown was able to score a run via a fielder's choice. Nies came up clutch with a two-rbi single to give ESU its first lead at 3-2.
- Wilmington was able to quickly even the score. A single followed by another base hit and an error in the outfield allowed an unearned run to cross the plate.
- The Warrior didn't allow the game to be tied for long. After a strikeout, Weirich walked and stole second, as Shannon Edelman followed with a walk. Shaw-Tait smacked a clutch two-rbi double, lifting the Warriors to a 5-3 lead.
- The game remained scoreless until the top of the 5th. The Wildcats used a single and a wild pitch to put a runner in scoring position. A base hit followed, as the runner on second scored on the play. WU tacked an additional run in the inning off an RBI single, to knot the game at 5-5.
- WU was able to break the tie in the top of the 7th. After a double, a bunt single and stolen base to leadoff the inning, Jenkins registered a strikeout for the first out of the frame. A line drive was misplayed in the outfield, allowing the go-ahead run to score. Jenkins got the next two batters to foul out to prevent any more damage.
- After a leadoff single from Nies, a flyout and a double play ended the contest and ESU's chances at a comeback.
How It Happened – Game 2
- After a scoreless first two innings, Wilmington was able to put three runs across the scoreboard in the top of 3rd. A single, sac bunt and walk put runners on first and third. An infield base hit allowed the first run of the contest to score, as the Wildcats added additional runs following an RBI single and then a passed ball, to make it a 3-0 contest.
- Both teams' bats remained quiet until the seventh inning. With two outs, WU's Isabella Eleazor smacked a two-rbi single with two outs, increasing the Wildcat lead to 5-0.
- In its final at bats, the Warriors were able to avoid being shutout with Smallwood's two-run blast with no outs, as the Warriors looked to make a dramatic comeback. After a single and hit-by-pitch put the tying run to the plate, WU switched pitchers.
- After a foul out, a walk from Kate Donaghue loaded the bases with just one out. Wright sent a deep sacrifice fly to right, allowing Weirich to score to cut the deficit to just two. With the tying run now in scoring position and two outs, Wilmington forced a groundout to the pitcher for the final out of the contest and to preserve the sweep over ESU.
Up Next
- ESU is idle from competition until Sunday, when the Warriors are scheduled to host Holy Family on at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00p.m. at Creekview Park's Vigon International Field.
