JOHNSTOWN – Playing their first road games in 31 days, the 13th/18th-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball team (15-3) took both games of a non-conference doubleheader from Pitt-Johnstown (6-9) on Thursday afternoon at Point Stadium.
The Warriors pitching staff continued to dominate opposing lineups as
Brent Francisco,
Nick McAuliffe,
Tom Reisinger and
Mike Yates combined to allow three runs on 10 hits while striking out 13 over 14.0 innings of work.
Reigning PSAC East Freshman of the Year
Jack Rothenhausler was an intricate piece in both victories for the Warriors as the sophomore finished 4-for-6 with a double, triple, home run, four RBI and three runs scored.
With ESU leading 1-0 headed into the fourth inning of the opener, the Warriors proceeded to outscore Pitt-Johnstown, 11-2, the rest of the way which included the game's final nine runs to earn the 12-2 victory.
After falling behind 1-0 in game two, the Warriors used a three-run top of the fourth inning to secure a 3-1 win over the Mountain Cats.
Notables
Game One
- Rothenhausler and graduate student Victor Cruz both went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Rothenhausler finished a home run shy of the cycle after recording a single, double and triple.
- Juniors Cameron Hubbard (2-for-5, two RBI, one run) and Jeremy Piatkiewicz (2-for-3, one walk, one RBI, one run) each collected a pair of hits
- Redshirt junior Tim Haverstick drove in a pair of runs on a single while Matt Ervolina and Logan Stirr each recorded a RBI
- Ben Piripavel and Mike Kelly combined to score four runs and steal three bases
- Francisco (5-1) earned the victory in the opener and improved his record to 5-1 after firing 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. McAuliffe pitched the final 2.0 innings, striking out a trio of Mountain Cats
Game Two
- After a ball put in play by Cruz evened the game at 1-1, Rothenhausler broke the tie with his second long ball of the season to put the Warriors in front, 3-1
- Also recording hits in game two for ESU was Piripavel, Stirr and Piatkiewicz
- Reisinger maintained a perfect record, moving to 3-0 after pitching 5.0 innings in which he yielded one run on three hits while punching out seven
- Yates was credited with his second save of the season have throwing the last 2.0 innings
- ESU finished the doubleheader with six stolen bases to push their season total to 75. Coming into today, the Warriors ranked fourth in NCAA Division II.
- In this week's NCBWA Polls, ESU held steady at No. 18 in the Top 25 and at No. 2 in the Atlantic Region after receiving one first-place votes. The Warriors slid up one spot to No. 13 in the latest edition of the College Baseball Division II Top 25 and were ranked as high as No. 9 by Perfect Game.
How it Happened – ESU 12, Pitt-Johnstown 2 (Game One)
The Warriors got on the board early by taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Piripavel set the table with a leadoff walk, before stealing second and racing home on an RBI triple from Rothenhausler.
In the top of the fourth inning, ESU used a trio of hits to plate two more runs which extended their advantage to 3-0. With two outs and Rothenhausler on third, the sophomore came around to score on a single through the left side from Cruz, who then crossed home plate after a triple from Piatkiewicz down the right field line.
Pitt-Johnstown responded using a two-out rally in the home half of the fourth as Devon Boyles tripled and Evan Beach followed with home run to left field to cut the Warriors' lead to 3-2.
With two outs in the top of the fifth inning, ESU pushed across three runs to regain a 6-2 edge. Hubbard delivered a single to center field to bring home Piripavel as the redshirt sophomore moved into scoring position after reaching on a fielder's choice and stealing second. After Hubbard swiped third, he was able to hustle home on an infield single from Rothenhausler to make the score 5-2. Following a four-pitch to Frey, Cruz produced an RBI single through the right side to bring around Rothenhausler.
The Warriors scratched together another two-out run in the top of the sixth inning, pushing their lead to 7-2 as Hubbard poked a RBI single into right field to score Kelly, who got on base after getting plunked.
ESU broke the game open in their last at-bats, pushing across five runs on six hits to make the final score 12-2. With the bases loaded, Haverstick delivered a two-run single before Piripavel lofted a sacrifice fly into left field to put the Warriors ahead 10-2. Ervolina followed with an RBI base hit and Stirr capped off the inning with a double to left field that plated the fifth run.
How it Happened – ESU 3, Pitt-Johnstown 1 (Game Two)
The Mountain Cats scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning as Jake Ansell delivered a RBI single after Josh Ulery recorded a one-out triple.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Warriors took advantage of a Pitt-Johnstown error to jump in front 3-1. ESU tied the game on a Mountain Cats miscue as Piripavel came around to score following a leadoff double. Then with one out, Rothenhausler continued to swing a hot bat as the sophomore mashed a two-run blast over the left field fence to break the tie.
Up Next
ESU and Pitt-Johnstown return to Point Stadium tomorrow for another twin bill with first pitch set for noon
