SLIPPERY ROCK – The 18th-ranked and second-seeded East Stroudsburg University baseball team dropped a pitchers dual to third-seeded California (Pa.), 2-1, in 11 innings in the first round of the PSAC Tournament on Wednesday morning at Jack Critchfield Park.
With the loss, the Warriors were eliminated from the PSAC Tournament and dropped to 35-12 on the season. The Vulcans earned their seventh straight victory to move to 29-19 overall and advanced to face the winner of Seton Hill (W1) and Shippensburg (E4) tomorrow morning.
PSAC East Pitcher of the Year
Chase Nowak set the program's all-time innings pitched record, previously held by Mark Cannon (259.1 – 1982-85), after firing the 264th-plus inning of his career today. Despite earning the no-decision the All-PSAC East First Team selection went 7.0 strong innings, allowing one unearned run on six hits while striking out six Vulcans. The Wilkes-Barre native also holds the school records for wins (27), strikeouts (298) and games started (51).
Notables
- Victor Cruz (2-for-4, one walk) and Jack Rothenhausler (2-for-5) combined for four of the Warriors six hits
- Tim Haverstick (1-for-3) and Mike Kelly (1-for-4, one walk) each recorded a double
- Matt Ervolina drove in the Warriors' lone run on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the eighth inning
- First Team All-PSAC East relief pitcher Nick McAuliffe (5-2) suffered the loss despite a solid performance out of the bullpen in which he fired 4.0 innings, allowing one run on five hits and punching out four
- The Warriors were unable to swipe a bag for only the sixth game this season after entering today with a single-season school record and third most stolen bases in NCAA Division II with 175
- The second round of the NCAA Atlantic Region rankings are set to be released this afternoon as ESU checked in at No. 3 a week ago
- In this week's polls, the Warriors held steady at No. 4 in the NCBWA Atlantic Region Poll, slid up to No. 18 in the Collegiate Baseball Division II Poll and ranked as high as No. 11 in the Perfect Game Top 25.
How it Happened – California (Pa.) 2, ESU 1 (11 Innings)
The Vulcans struck first in the top of the fourth inning, plating one run with the help of an ESU error to take a 1-0 lead. Brett Bobin led off the frame with a single before advancing to third on a failed pickoff and coming around to score on a sacrifice fly from Justin Stewart.
ESU broke through in the bottom of the eighth inning, plating one run on one hit to tie the score at 1-1. Following a leadoff double from Haverstick, pinch runner
Jack Gensemer advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from
Ben Piripavel. After Kelly grinded out a seven pitch walk, Ervolina drove in the tying run on a fielder's choice.
With two outs in the top of the 11th inning, Payton Conte launched a home run to left field to put the Vulcans back ahead, 2-1.
Up Next
The Warriors turn their attention to the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday at 10 p.m.
