EAST STROUDSBURG – The No. 1 seed East Stroudsburg University softball team is set to host its first NCAA Atlantic Regional in program history this week, welcoming No. 4 West Chester, No. 5 West Virginia Wesleyan and No. 8 Bowie State to Stroudsburg’s Creekview Park from May 11-13. 

The Warriors (38-16) open the double-elimination tournament against the No. 8 seed Bowie State (35-13) on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. 

For the complete schedule, directions to Creekview Park, ticketing information and more, visit the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship Central.

About ESU: ESU earned a pair of wins during the PSAC Tournament to help secure the No. 1 seed in the region, taking down California (Pa.) and Kutztown before being eliminated by Mercyhurst. Freshman Maddy Pritchard posted a team-best five RBIs and .500 batting average during the Tournament, helping ESU to a 7-4 win over California (Pa.). ESU enters the tournament winners of 14 of their past 18, with the Warriors holding a .310 batting average and 2.71 ERA during the span.

ESU NCAA Tournament History: The Warriors will be making its fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament, after previous selection in 2006, 2007 and 2021. ESU holds a record of 6-6, posting three wins in the elimination at Kutztown during the NCAA Atlantic Regional and Super Regional, finishing as the runner-up in the tournament to West Chester. The Warriors look to advance to the finals for the first time in program history. If ESU wins the Atlantic Regional, they will have the right to the host the Super Regional next week against the Atlantic pod two winner (Shippensburg, Charleston, Kutztown, Davis & Elkins).  

No Place Like Home: The Warriors were happy to hear its name called as the No. 1 seed, securing hosting rights at Creekview Park for the first-time. ESU has been nearly unbeatable when playing in the Poconos the past few seasons. On its all-turf field since 2019, the Warriors hold an impressive 65-15 record, including a 23-5 record this season for an 81.3 winning percentage.

All-PSAC: Last week, six Warriors were on honored all-conference teams, highlighted by Paige Zigmund becoming the second Warrior to earn PSAC East Pitcher of the Year after breaking ESU’s wins record with a 21-5 record. Along with Zigmund landing on the All-PSAC East First Team, Jada Smallwood (1B), Reilly Vicendese (3B), Abigail Weirich (OF) and Molly Nies (OF) earned second-team accolades. 

Know the Foe: The Bulldogs earned wins over Virginia Union (3-0), Virginia State (2-0), Claflin (3-2), before falling to Claflin in the first game (1-0) of the championship series. In the championship game leading 3-2, Bowie State secured the CIAA Championship with five combined runs in the sixth and seventh to defeat the Panthers, 8-2. The squad thrives on the basepaths, ranking third in the country in stolen bases, with an average of 3.59 swipes per game. The patient lineup ranks 19th in walks and 33rd in on-base percentage. With getting on base at a high clip, Bowie State is able to convert runs at a high rate, ranking 15th in scoring with an average of 6.76 runs per game. While scoring six-plus runs per game, Bowie State holds a team ERA of 3.07 which has led to the successful season. 

A Look at West Chester: After earning the No. 1 seed in the PSAC East for the PSAC Championships, the Golden Rams were eliminated after two losses against Bloomsburg (6-5, 8 innings) and Gannon (9-7). During the regular season, the Golden Rams and Warriors split its four-game series, a split in both doubleheaders at their respective fields. WCU relies on solid pitching led by Danielle Ciliberto (1.16 ERA), Makenzie Edwards (2.42 ERA) and Samantha Klug (2.58 ERA). The Golden Rams’ Team ERA of 2.52 paces the PSAC and ranks 40th in the country. Nobody has more hits in NCAA Division II than Madison Melvin this season, with 88, boasting a .489 batting average which ranks sixth.   

A Look at West Virginia Wesleyan: The Bobcats totaled an impressive 43-15 record to earn an at-large bid into the regional after falling in two of three games during the MEC Tournament in Troutville, Va. The pitching staff led by Kendal Stoffel (19-2, 1.17 ERA) ranks 10th overall in NCAA DII, allowing just 1.67 runs per contest. Among the nation’s best pitcher at the level, Stoffel ranks 11th in ERA, 20th in shutouts, 26th in victories, 26th in and 36th in WHIP.