STROUDSBURG – Despite another solid performance in the circle by East Stroudsburg University softball pitcher Paige Zigmund, the Warriors fell to Charleston, 2-0, in the first game of the NCAA Atlantic Super Regional on Thursday afternoon at Creekview Park's Vigon International Field.

The Warriors (41-17) looks to bounce back on Friday, needing two wins to punch its ticket to the NCAA Softball Championships. The Golden Eagles (45-10) are now a single win away from representing the Atlantic Region in Chattanooga.

ESU was limited to just one base runner, with freshman Maddy Pritchard belting the Warriors' lone hit in the bottom of the third with a single through the right side. UC's Allysa Lake delivered the go-ahead two-RBI double in the bottom of the 6th, lifting the Golden Eagles to a 2-0 lead for the games only runs.
 
Notables

• Both Zigmund and Charleston's Brianna McCown shined in the circle, as both pitchers were named to the NFCA and D2CCA All-Region First Team. McCown (W, 29-4) struck out 10 without issuing a free pass, facing just one over the minimum.
• Zigmund (L, 24-6) allowed six hits in just her sixth loss of the season, striking out four Golden Eagles and gave up just one walk.
• The Warriors played great defense, with a pair of double plays.
• ESU will look to make a run in the double-elimination tournament. In the PSAC Tournament, ESU bounced back with a pair of wins after falling to Slippery Rock in the opening game. In the 2021 NCAA Tournament, the Warriors rallied for three wins after being no-hit by West Liberty in the opening game at Kutztown's North Campus Field.

How It Happened

• The contest was limited in scoring and hits, with the Warriors stranding a pair of Golden Eagles that totaled a pair of hits to leadoff the first two innings. Maddy Pritchard posted ESU's first base knock in the bottom of the 3rd, but was caught stealing second to end the frame.
• Charleston added its third leadoff runner after a walk to leadoff the fourth frame, but Zigmund forced a lineout to Shaw-Tait, who flipped it to Jada Smallwood for a double play to keep the game scoreless.
• Charleston opened the scoring to open the sixth inning. A pair of singles followed by a stolen base put two Golden Eagles in scoring position. Alyssa Lake connected on a two-RBI double to right field with one out, just glancing off the glove of the ESU right fielder. After the pinch-runner advanced to third base on a flyout, Zigmund avoided a third run on the scoreboard with her third strikeout of the contest.
• ESU could not put a base runner in the bottom of the 6th or the 7th, falling 2-0 to UC in the opening game of the super regional.

Up Next

• ESU and Charleston will battle in game two on Friday at Noon at Creekview Park. If the Warriors earn a victory in that matchup, game three's "if necessary" game is slated to begin at 2:30 p.m. at Creekview Park.

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