STROUDSBURG – After falling to Bloomsburg in game one, 8-3, the East Stroudsburg University softball team salvaged a split by exploding for nine runs in the first two innings of game two, taking down the Huskies, 9-1, for the division split on Friday afternoon at Creekview Park's Vigon International Field.
The Warriors (22-10, 10-4 PSAC East) are now a game back of first place West Chester with the split, as the Golden Rams swept Kutztown on Friday. The Huskies (11-19, 6-6 PSAC East) are now sixth in the division with the split.
Offensively, the Warriors were led by its 3-4-5 hitters in
Reilly Vicendese,
Abigail Weirich and
Jada Smallwood, who produced three hits and three RBIs each. Weirich connected on a home run and a triple in game two. Vicendese scored two runs and posted a triple, while Smallwood blasted two doubles on the afternoon.
Leigh Ann Jenkins (W, 7-3) picked up the win in game two, allowing just one unearned run. She scattered five singles, and struck out five batters, holding the Huskies to a .238 batting average.
Notables
- Vicendese, Weirich and Smallwood combined for five runs scored and nine hits, including two doubles, two triples and a home run.
- Denva Shaw-Tait also blasted a home run, going yard for a solo home run in game one. She also added an RBI in game two with a ground out.
- ESU designated player Maddy Pritchard also contributed an RBI in the second contest.
- Molly Nies posted a double and a single, batting .400 on the day.
- Paige Zigmund was charged with just her third loss this season. She gave up four earned runs (seven total) in five innings. She struck out a pair of Huskies in five innings. Ariadna Cerda Bermejo finished the first game, allowing two hits and an earned run.
- Lexi Wright contributed another stellar defensive play with a barehanded ground out in the opening contest.
How it Happened – Bloomsburg 8, ESU 3
- Bloomsburg struck first posting a pair of runs in the opening at bats. Back-to-back doubles, by Lenner and Weidlich resulted in the first Husky run. After a groundout, a one-out single up the middle by Kranzley scored Weidlich, as BU led 2-0 after a half inning.
- Nies reached base with one out on a double and advanced to third with two outs with a steal, but was stranded 60 feet from home plate.
- BU added its third run in the top of the 3rd. After a single and a double, an error loaded the bases for Bloomsburg. A one-out ground out resulted in an RBI.
- The Huskies opened the game open with five runs in the of the 6th. A hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded. After a pitching change, Mia Nemeth smacked a grand slam, extending the lead to 8-0.
- The Warriors never gave up, putting up a two-spot to extend the game. Lexi Wright drew a walk and later scored after a sacrifice fly by Vicendese. Smallwood followed with an RBI single, as ESU cut its deficit to six.
- After Cerda Bermejo got out of the top of the 7th inning unscathed, the Warriors needed six runs to tie the contest. Shaw-Tait blasted a solo home run to begin the inning, making it a five-run game. Unfortunately for ESU, that's all the runs ESU could score, as the Warriors dropped game one, 8-3.
How it Happened – ESU 9, Bloomsburg 1
- After Jenkins retired the side in order, the Warriors exploded for five runs on five hits, batting around to take a 5-0 lead. After back-to-back walks, Vicendese belted a two-RBI triple. Smallwood followed with a an RBI double to score Vicendese. Weirich posted the third consecutive extra-base hits with a triple, as ESU took a 4-0 lead without any outs. After a pitching change, ESU tallied its fifth run with an RBI groundout by Shaw-Tait. ESU took a 5-0 lead after one inning.
- The Warriors were not done scoring runs, posting four runs in the second, to take a commanding 9-0 lead after two frames. An RBI double by Smallwood, followed by a two-run home run lifted the Warriors to an 8-0 advantage. Shannon Edelman doubled and advanced to third on a wild pitch with two outs, and then crossed the plate with an RBI single by Pritchard.
- Bloomsburg needed two runs to extend the game to the sixth inning, but could only put up a single run. After two singles and an error, the Huskies tacked on an unearned run with a single. Jenkins forced a lineout for the final out to end the game. The Warriors picked up the split to stay just one game back of first place West Chester in the PSAC East.
Up Next
- It's a quick turnaround for ESU, who heads to Lock Haven on Saturday. Game times are set for 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. The Warriors return to Creekview Park on Tuesday against Kutztown at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
