WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Highlighted by
Paige Zigmund's record-breaking 17th win of the 2023 season in game one, the East Stroudsburg University softball team split a doubleheader with first-place West Chester on Friday afternoon at WCU Softball Field.
The Warriors (31-13, 19-7 PSAC East) snapped the Golden Rams' (32-13, 20-4 PSAC East) 10-game winning streak in game one's 2-1 victory, while WCU picked up the split in a 6-2 game two triumph.
Zigmund (W, 17-3) set a new program with her 17th win of the season in game one, tossing a four-hit gem which featured all singles. She did not allow an earned run in the complete game, striking out six Golden Rams and held WCU to a .154 batting average. She surpasses Crissy Wontroba's (16-14) 16-win season in 2006 for the most wins by a pitcher in a season. Zigmund has now allowed three runs or less in 15 of her past 16 starts, lowering her ERA from 3.69 to 1.72.
Notables
- Offensively, Jada Smallwood connected on a pair of RBIs to lead the squad, recording an RBI single in game one and providing a sacrifice fly in game two. Abigail Weirich also smacked a sac fly, driving in the go-ahead run in game one. Katherine Donaghue wraps up the run producers, who belted a solo home run in the 5th inning of game two.
- Molly Nies and Reilly Vicendese each connected on a single and a double for a pair of hits. Brooke McKeown also smacked a pair of base hits. Vicendese added two runs scored to her already school-record 48.
- Leigh Ann Jenkins (L, 8-6) got he start in game two, suffering the loss after allowing one earned run (four total) on three hits to start game two. Maddy Pritchard would pitch six innings in game two, allowing seven hits and one earned run (two total). She struck out a pair and allowed just one extra-base hit.
How It Happened – ESU 2, WCU 1
- The Warriors were able to open the scoring in the top of the 3rd. With two outs, Vicendese smacked a double and was driven in by Smallwood's single through the left-side gap.
- With both pitcher's dealing, ESU added its second run in the top of the 5th. Vicendese reached base via a fielder's choice and would a steal second and advanced to third on a passed ball. After a walk, Weirich sent a popout deep enough for Vicendese to score, lifting ESU to a 2-0 edge.
- The Golden Rams were able to get a run back in the bottom half of the fifth. With two errors in the inning, Katelyn Rittenbaugh sent a two-out single to right center to avoid being shutout. Zigmund struck out the ensuing batter to strand runners on first and third, allowing just the unearned run.
- Zigmund did not allow a base runner after the RBI single, retiring the final seven batters she faced for the record-breaking win.
How It Happened – WCU 6, ESU 2
- After being limited to one run in seven innings in game one, the Golden Rams started the contest strong with four runs in the bottom of the 1st. With two Warrior errors in the inning, WCU scored runs on an RBI double, two RBI singles along with a wild pitch.
- The Rams added another run on a double steal, after a throwing error in the second inning.
- The Warriors were able to put a tally on the scoreboard in the top of the 4th, with Nies leading off the inning with a double. After a dropped flyout, she advanced to third. Smallwood came up with the sacrifice fly for her 42nd RBI of the season.
- Donaghue blasted her fourth home run of the season with one out in the fifth, cutting the deficit to three runs at 5-2.
- The Golden Rams got the run back on a fielding error in the 6th inning, taking a 6-2 lead to wrap up the scoring.
- ESU looked to rally in the top of the 7th, with a leadoff single from Weirich, but a pair of flyouts and a popout ended the chance at a Warrior sweep.
Up Next
- The Warriors are idle from competition for the rest of the weekend and are back in action on Tuesday at Bloomsburg.
- Game times are set for 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. against the Huskies.
