MANSFIELD – Behind 27 combined runs in the doubleheader, the 9th/15th-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball swept their second consecutive PSAC East series as the Warriors defeated Mansfield, 12-1 and 15-8, on Monday afternoon at Joseph Shaute Field.
On track for the best 30-game start in program history, the Warriors improved to 24-4 on the season and 8-1 in the conference while the Mounties fell to 5-18 overall and 0-12 in the league.
All nine starters recorded a hit and ESU scored at least one run in each of the first five frames which included crooked numbers in the second, third and fourth innings to defeat Mansfield by a final score of 12-1 in game two of the three-game set.
In the series finale, the Warriors trailed 2-0 after the second inning but proceeded to score 15 runs the rest of the way to finish off the sweep of Mansfield.
Notables
- Junior Cameron Hubbard provided the power for the Warriors, going 3-for-6 with two doubles, his second home run of the season, two walks, five RBI and four runs scored
- Reigning PSAC Freshman of the Year Jack Rothenhausler also hit .500 on the day as he went 4-for-8 with his third home run of the year, three RBI and two runs
- Mike Kelly continued to turn over ESU's lineup as the junior was 3-for-6 with a trio of RBI and runs scored as well as two stolen bases
- Junior Jeremy Piatkiewicz went 2-for-5 which included his third long ball of the season and four walks to go along with two RBI and four runs scored
- Catching all but one inning of the doubleheader, Tim Haverstick finished 3-for-7 with his second home run of the year, a double, four RBI and three runs
- Out of the first and second spots in the lineup, Ben Piripavel and Matt Ervolina combined for six hits, two walks, four RBI, four runs scored and five stolen bases
- Brent Francisco got the start in game one, tossing five strong innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out five Mounties. JP Nolan and Scott Shamany each delivered a scoreless inning out of the bullpen. Francisco improved his record to 7-1 overall and kept his ERA at an impressive 1.62 in 44.1 innings.
- Earning the win in game two for ESU was Nick McAuliffe (3-1) as the junior pitched 3.0 innings in relief, yielding three runs on seven hits and striking out five. Mike Yates maintained his 0.00 ERA of 15.0 innings of work after throwing 2.0 frames and striking out a pair.
- In today's polls, the Warriors slide up another spot to No. 9 in the College Baseball Division Top 30 and remained at No. 2 in the NCBWA Atlantic Region Poll with one first-place vote. The Top 25 for the NCBWA and Perfect Game will be announced later this week.
- This afternoon, Chase Nowak garnered PSAC East Pitcher of the Week recognition for the second time this season
How it Happened – ESU 12, Mansfield 1 (Game One)
ESU put together a two-out rally in the top of the first inning as Hubbard walked and Rothenhausler singled to put runners on the corners. After a pitch bounced to the back stop, Hubbard scampered home to put the Warriors ahead, 1-0.
The Warriors carried their momentum over into the top of the second inning, plating four runs on three hits to stretch their lead to 5-0. Cruz got ESU started with a leadoff double and Piatkiewicz followed with a bunt single, before Haverstick uncorked a three-run blast to make the score 4-0. After Kelly worked a walk the next at-bat, the junior stole second and third before crossing home plate on a sacrifice fly from Hubbard.
ESU tacked on three more runs in the top of third inning, all with two outs, to make the score 8-0. After Frey singled to begin the frame, the redshirt freshman raced home on a passed ball and throwing error to give the Warriors a 6-0 edge. The onslaught continued for ESU as Kelly doubled and Piripavel singled to drive in two more runs.
The Warriors hung a crooked number on the scoreboard for the third consecutive inning in the top of the fourth as ESU extended their advantage to 11-0. With Rothenhausler and Frey aboard following a base hit and fielding error, the duo both came around to score on a two-run single from Cruz to give the Warriors a double-digit lead. Then with Cruz on third, the graduate student tallied ESU's 11th run on an RBI single off the bat of Kelly.
In the top of the fifth inning, ESU added to their lead with a solo home run to center field from Hubbard to make the score 12-0.
Mansfield recorded their lone run of the opener in the home half of the inning as Zachary Shertzer produced an RBI double to make the final score 12-1.
How it Happened – ESU 15, Mansfield 8 (Game Two)
With runners on first and third for Mansfield in the bottom of the first inning, Shertzer took off for second which allowed Brittain Shander to race home, giving the Mounties a 1-0 lead.
After the Mounties got their first two batters aboard in the home half of the second inning, Shertzer produced a sacrifice fly to center field to stretch Mansfield's edge to 2-0.
The Warriors got the runs right back and more in the top of the third inning as ESU scored four times with two outs to jump ahead 4-2. Hubbard doubled home Ervolina and Haverstick to tie the game and Rothenhausler followed with a two-run home run to give ESU their first lead.
ESU added to their advantage in the top of the fifth inning, plating five runs on three hits to make the score 9-2. With Piripavel standing on third, Ervolina poked an RBI single to left field before crossing home plate on a double from Hubbard. After Hubbard stole third, the junior crossed home plate on a fielder's choice by Cruz. Piatkiewicz capped off the scoring with a two-run bomb over the right field fence.
Mansfield responded with one run in the home half of the fifth as Alan Bautista collected an RBI on a groundout.
The Warriors answered with two additional runs in the top of the sixth inning as Piripavel and Rothenhausler recorded RBI base hits to give ESU an eight-run cushion at 11-3.
The Mounties kept within striking distance of ESU in the bottom half of the frame as Jacob Houtz and Marcus Nales each singled home a run to trim the Warriors' lead to 11-5.
ESU scored for the third straight inning in the top of the seventh as Haverstick, Kelly and Piripavel all knocked in a run to put the Warriors back ahead 14-5.
In the ninth inning, ESU added a run as
Shanley Wall raced home on a wild pitch while the Mounties added three runs on a home run to make the final score 15-8.
Up Next
The Warriors take their six-game win streak on the road to Staten Island for a non-conference doubleheader against the Dolphins. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the CSI Baseball Complex.
