MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The East Stroudsburg University softball team's potent offense was too much for Millersville to handle, defeating the Marauders, 9-3, and 11-7 for the conference sweep on Tuesday afternoon at Seaber Softball Stadium.
With the pair of wins, the Warriors (30-12, 18-6 PSAC East) have now won seven of its past eight contests and reach 30 wins in a single season for just the second time in program history (34, 2022). The Marauders fall to 23-21,10-12 in the division.
For the second consecutive doubleheader, it was
Katherine Donaghue's bat that provided the most RBIs, posting five RBIs on three hits. She smacked a 3-run home run in game one and an RBI double in game two.
Notables
- Along with Donaghue, six Warriors recorded at least three hits and six produced at least one RBI. Abigail Weirich slashed .571 on the day, smacking four singles and two RBIs. Molly Nies also posted four singles and added one run batted in.
- Over the past week, Donaghue has raised her batting average from .254 to .313, and has combined for 10 hits and eight RBIs in that span.
- Jada Smallwood added three hits, including two doubles to her already single-season record 17 doubles this season. She sent home three Warriors.
- Reilly Vicendese set a new program record for single season runs scored, now with 46 in 2023. She surpassed ESU Hall-of-Famer Jen Veronesi's 43 runs set in 2006 after scoring on a wild pitch in game one. She collected three hits on the day and drove in two runs.
- In game two, Shannon Edelman smacked three hits, including two doubles. Her backstop partner, Kaitlin Houser drove in two Warriors in game one.
- Paige Zigmund (W, 16-3) picked up her season-record tying 16th win of the season, limiting 'Ville to seven hits and two earned runs, while striking out 10 and walking just a pair. She pitched the final two innings of game two as well, allowing just two hits without a run crossing the plate. She now leads the conference in wins, ranks fourth in strikeouts and batting average against (.205).
- Leigh Ann Jenkins got the start in game one, pitching the first two innings, while allowing five runs on six hits. Maddy Pritchard (W, 6-2) got the game two win, tossing three innings in relief, while allowing just one earned run on five hits.
How it Happened – ESU 9, Millersville 3
- The Warriors picked up right where they left off, with McKeown starting the game with a double. After advancing to third on a passed ball, she came around to score on a Nies single. Weirich loaded the bases with a single, as ESU scored its third run on an error. Houser followed with a single, as ESU took a 4-0 lead early.
- Brooke McKeown reached base to lead off the second after reaching second base on a dropped first strike and an error by the. After a flyout, Vicendese smacked an RBI single to score McKeown to extend the Warriors to five.
- The Marauders scored their first run in the third with an RBI single by Aleese Angelo and added a run in the fourth on an error in the fourth frame.
- Leading 5-2, ESU took control with a three-run home run by Donahue, to lengthen the lead to six at 8-2. Gabi Turner provided an RBI single to get a run back for 'Ville in the 5th.
- Vicendese wrapped up the scoring by crossing the plate on a wild pitch for her record-breaking 44th run scored of her junior campaign.
How it Happened – ESU 11, Millersville 7
- Once again, the Warriors opened the scoring in the top of the 1st. Smallwood was able to provide an RBI with a bunt single, while Weirich followed with an RBI single to score Smallwood.
- This time, the Warriors' lead was erased. The Marauders tied the game with a two-RBI single from Angelo in the bottom half of the first inning.
- The back-and-forth affair continued with both the Warriors and Marauders putting up four runs each in the second frame. Donaghue blasted a double to score Shannon Edelman to give ESU a 3-2 lead. Vicendese then smacked a single to left field that was misplayed by the outfielder, which scored three runs on the play to lift the Warriors to a 6-2 edge. The Marauders put up a four-spot of their own in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly by Angelo and a three-run home run from Gabby D'Ottavio tied the contest at 6-6.
- Donaghue lifted ESU back to a lead with a ground out in the top of the 3rd to score Shaw-Tait. Weirich then tallied an insurance run in the fourth with an RBI single to score Smallwood to snag an 8-6 lead.
- The Warriors were not done, with Smallwood blasting an RBI double in the sixth, while pinch-runner Gianna Fredericks added a run in the inning after scoring on an error. The Warriors led 11-7 after 6 innings.
- Zigmund, who entered the game in the fifth, allowed two hits without conceding a run in the 11-7 win.
Up Next
- The Warriors head to West Chester on Friday for a doubleheader with the Golden Rams.
- First pitches are set for 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
