MILLERSVILLE – After falling to No. 5/8 Millersville in game two, 5-0, the No. 9/14th-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball team defeated the Marauders, 9-1, in the rubber match to take two of three games in the series on Saturday at Cooper Park.
The Warriors saw their nine-game win streak come to an end but bounced back to improve their record to 28-5 on the season and 10-2 in the PSAC East.
ESU and Millersville (26-6, 10-2 PSAC East) are deadlocked at the top of the PSAC East standings; but the Warriors hold the tie breaker by winning 2-of-3 games.
Notables
- In game one of today's twin bill, Ben Piripavel, Parker Frey, Victor Cruz and Mike Kelly each recorded a hit for the Warriors.
- ESU exploded offensively in game two, led by Matt Ervolina (2-for-6), Tim Haverstick (2-for-5, one run) and Frey (1-for-5) as the trio each drove in two runs
- Kelly went 3-for-5 with a walk and two runs while Jack Rothenhausler was 2-for-5 with a RBI and one run scored
- Combining for four runs and four free passes, Piripavel finished 2-for-3 and Cruz went 2-for-4
- Junior Jeremy Piatkiewicz recorded a RBI and one run scored
- In the opener, Brent Francisco (7-2) suffered his second loss of the season after allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out a pair. Scott Shamany and Jaden Newtown both pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
- Nick McAuliffe (4-1) was lights out in relief to earn the game two victory as the junior went 4.2 scoreless innings, scattering just one hit while striking out six. Mike Yates threw a clean ninth inning to keep his ERA at a spotless 0.00 in 16.0 innings of work.
- 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.
How it Happened – Millersville 5, ESU 0 (Game One)
The Marauders grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Jimmy Losh led off the game with a double before coming around to score on an extra base hit down the right field line from Thomas Caufield.
Millersville put together a two-out rally in the home half of the third inning as Bren Taylor singled and Caufield walked which set up Cole Houser for an RBI single to extend the Marauders' advantage to 2-0.
It was de-ja-vu in the bottom of the fourth inning as the Marauders plated three runs with two outs to stretch their lead to 5-0 over ESU. Chase Simmons tripled home Tyler Wright before coming around to score on a fielding error by the Warriors. Taylor capped off the frame with an RBI single.
How it Happened – ESU 9, Millersville 1 (Two)
ESU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as the Warriors plated two runs on a pair of hits. The bases were loaded for Rothenhausler after Piripavel was hit by a pitch, a base hit from Kelly and a bunt single from Hubbard, as the sophomore ultimately worked a free pass to drive in the game's first run. With two outs, Kelly scampered home on a fielder's choice from Ervolina to put ESU ahead by a pair.
The Warriors added to their edge in the top of the third inning with Ervolina and Haverstick collecting RBI to put ESU ahead 4-0. Rothenhausler and Cruz produced back-to-back singles before a fielding error by the Marauders pushed across ESU's third run. Then with two outs, Haverstick knocked an RBI single down the left field line to plate Cruz.
Millersville got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning as Wright recorded a run scoring base hit to cut the Marauders deficit to 4-1.
After a few quiet innings offensively for ESU, the Warriors blew the game open in the top of the seventh with four runs on four hits to stretch their lead to 8-1. With Piatkiewicz standing on first, Haverstick roped an RBI double to left field to put the Warriors ahead 5-1. Haverstick would advance to third on a wild pitch and crossed home plate on a passed ball during a walk to Piripavel. Kelly kept the frame alive with a single and Frey followed with a double to give ESU a seven-run cushion.
The Warriors added an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning as Piatkiewicz drove in Cruz on a sacrifice fly to make the final score 9-1.
Up Next
ESU is back on the road Tuesday as the Warriors travel to Pace for a single 9-inning game at 3:30 p.m.
