STROUDSBURG – In its PSAC East home opener, the East Stroudsburg University softball team continued its hot streak, picking up its eighth and ninth consecutive victory against Millersville on Tuesday afternoon at Creekview Park's Vigon International Field.
The Warriors (15-7, 3-1 PSAC East) shutout the Marauders (11-11, 0-2 PSAC East), 3-0, in game one and picked up the sweep with a dominant 9-1 triumph to complete the twin bill.
ESU's pitching staff of
Paige Zigmund (W, 7-2) and
Leigh Ann Jenkins (W, 4-2) limited Millersville to six hits in the doubleheader, holding the Marauders to a .143 batting average.
Notables
- Zigmund fired seven shutout innings for her seventh win and third shutout of the season in the opening contest. She struck out seven Marauders, allowing just leadoff singles in the first, third and fourth innings of action. She walked just two in the outing. The shutout lowers her ERA to a mark of 2.36, her WHIP to .0.94 and her batting average against to .206.
- Jenkins matched Zigmund's seven strikeouts and three hits allowed in five innings. She conceded three walks and gave up just one earned run in her fourth win of the season.
- Denva Shaw-Tait led the Warriors with five runs batted in in game two, supplying a two-RBI double and a bases-clearing three-RBI double to pace the bats.
- Abigail Weirich and Brooke McKeown both provided three singles, with Weirich tallying two RBIs and three runs scored. McKeown posted a hit in both contests, extending her hitting streak to 16.
- Jada Smallwood and Molly Nies both added two hits, including a double, along with sending a Warrior home. Catcher Kaitlin Houser provided two hits in the opening game including a two-bagger, while fellow backstop Shannon Edelman provided an RBI in game two.
- Reilly Vicendese scored four of ESU's 12 runs on the day.
- ESU scored all nine of its runs with two outs in game two.
- The Warriors improve its home record to 12-2 at Creekview Park this season.
How It Happened – ESU 3, Millersville 0
- The Warriors scored the first run of the contest in the bottom of the 2nd. Weirich reached scoring position after a leadoff single and stolen base. She scored a run after a throwing error by the third baseman.
- The Warriors lengthened its edge in the bottom of the 3rd. After reaching first on a dropped third strike, Brooke McKeown scored on a double off the bat of Nies.
- With Zigmund continuing to impress in the circle, the Warriors added an insurance run in the bottom of the 5th. After a two-out single from Vicendese, Smallwood blasted a clutch double to right field for an RBI and the Warriors' third and final run.
- Zigmund retired the final eight batters she faced, picking up the seven-inning complete game shutout in the conference home opener.
How It Happened – ESU 9, Millersville 1
- ESU exploded for four runs on five hits in its first at bats of the day to grab a 4-0 lead early. After a leadoff single, a flyout and fielder's choice put ESU with two outs and a runner on first. After a Smallwood single, Weirich sent Vicendese home with a single. Shaw-Tait followed with a two-RBI double, to score both Weirich and Smallwood. Edelman closed the scoring with an RBI single, as the Warriors took hold of game two early. The Warriors smacked four consecutive hits in the frame with two outs.
- ESU added to its lead in the bottom of the 2nd, with two outs and the bases loaded, Shaw-Tait cleared the bases with a double to pick up her fifth RBI of game two by the second inning. The Warriors took an 8-0 lead into the third.
- Holding a lengthy lead, Jenkins continued her strong performance. Millersville put up its first run in the top of the 4th, on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kendra Bumgardner.
- The Warriors added its ninth run in the bottom of the 5th. A wild pitch and an error by the catcher allowed Vicendese to cross the plate for an eight-run lead.
- Needing three outs to end the game early, Jenkins allowed two walks and hit-by-pitch with two outs to juice the bases. She picked up her
Up Next
- ESU is back in action on Thursday at Shepherd.
- Game times are set for 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
