STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Off to their best 30-game start in program history, the 9th/14th-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball team rolled to a doubleheader sweep of Staten Island by scores of 11-0 and 9-3 on Wednesday afternoon from the CSI Baseball Complex.
The Warriors extended their win streak to eight games and pushed their overall record to 26-4 while the Dolphins dropped to 8-17 on the year. ESU surpassed the 23-7 mark previously recorded by the 2016 squad.
Notables
- Registering two official at-bats, junior Cameron Hubbard went 1-for-2 with two walks, two hit by pitches, three RBI, four runs and three stolen bases
- Matt Ervolina had himself an afternoon as the sophomore was 3-for-6 with two doubles, a pair of walks, three RBI, three runs and five stolen bases
- Jack Rothenhausler finished 2-for-4 with two free passes, three RBI, three runs and a pair of stolen bases
- Making the start in game two, Shanley Wall was 1-for-1 with three walks, two runs scored and a stolen base
- Victor Cruz belted his first home run wearing the red and black as the graduate student finished the day 2-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored
- Mike Kelly and Ben Piripavel combined for four walks and three runs scored
- Ryan Dewees (2-1) was brilliant in his game one start as the freshman pitched 4.0 scoreless innings, scattering three hits and striking out five. Making their first appearances on the mound this season, Alec Snyder, Matt Tankred and Reuben Costin each fired scoreless innings in relief, combining for a trio of strikeouts.
- Jack Nielsen recorded his first win of the season, firing 4.0 innings in game two, allowing one run on four hits while punching out a career-high six Dolphins. Quinn Warmkessel (2.0 innings, three strikeouts) and Vincent Cenname (1.0 inning, two strikeouts) pitched the final three innings in relief.
- The Warriors entered today's twin bill ranked third in NCAA Division II for steals and swiped 13 more in increase their season total to 132. ESU has three players with 20+ steals through 30 games including Ervolina (26), Piripavel 923) and Kelly (22)
- In this week's polls, the Warriors moved up one spot to No. 9 in the College Baseball Division Top 30 and to No. 14 in the NCBWA Top 25. ESU held steady at No. 2 in the NCBWA Atlantic Region Poll with one first-place vote and was No. 9 in the Perfect Game Top 25.
- The last two days, Chase Nowak garnered PSAC East Pitcher of the Week and NCBWA Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Week honors
How it Happened – ESU 11, Staten Island 0 (Game One)
Batting through the order in the top of the first inning, the Warriors scored four runs using three hits and a trio of Dolphins' errors to grab an early 4-0 lead. With one out, Ervolina doubled down the right field line, stole third and raced home on a wild pitch for the game's first run. After drawing a walk and advancing to second on a balk, Hubbard crossed home plate following an RBI single from Frey to make the score 2-0. Cruz followed with an RBI double and ultimately scored the fourth run after a failed pickoff attempt.
Despite not registering a hit in the top of the second inning, ESU pushed across two more runs to extend their advantage to 6-0. Piripavel and Ervolina worked back-to-back walks to begin the frame before a series of stolen bases and throwing errors by Staten Island's catcher allowed both runners to score.
The Warriors blew the game open in the top of the fourth inning, plating five additional runs to stretch their lead to 11-0. Ervolina and Hubbard drew consecutive free passes, advanced into scoring position with steals and came around to score on a two-run single from Rothenhausler. Rothenhausler would make the score 9-0 after moving to third before a fielding error allowed him to cross home plate. Cruz capped off the offensive explosion with a two-run blast down the left field line.
How it Happened – ESU 9, Staten Island 3 (Game Two)
The Warriors broke through in the top of the third inning, scoring four runs on three hits and two Staten Island errors to take a 4-0 lead. Wall got ESU on the board following a lead off walk as the freshman stole second and raced home on a throwing miscue by the Dolphins. With runners on the corners, Rothenhausler drove in Kelly on a single and Hubbard would cross home plate following a fielding error to make the score 3-0. Cruz added on the fourth run with a sacrifice fly that plated Rothenhausler.
Staten Island scored their first run of the afternoon in the bottom of the fourth inning as Anthony Iraci recorded an RBI single to trim the Dolphin's deficit to 4-1.
ESU put the game out of reach in the top of the sixth inning, plating five runs with the help of four walks and two hits to increase their advantage to 9-1. Following free passes to
Tim Haverstick, Wall and Kelly that loaded the bases, Hubbard collected a pair of RBI on a single down the right field line to make the score 6-1. After another walk to Rothenhausler, Ervolina cleared the bases with a three-run triple to put ESU ahead by eight.
The Dolphins added runs in each of their last two at-bats to make the final score 9-3 in favor of ESU.
Up Next
ESU turns their attention to a marquee matchup on Friday as the Warriors host No. 5 Millersville at 2 p.m. from Creekview Park to begin a must-watch PSAC East three-game series
