GREENSBURG – Facing elimination, the third-seeded East Stroudsburg University baseball team used an offensive explosion to crush No. 7 seed Shippensburg, 20-4, on Friday at the SHU Baseball Complex.
With the season on the line, the Warriors (36-13) scored 20 runs, the most in a NCAA Tournament game in program history, on 16 hits and 12 walks while limiting the Raiders (27-25) to four runs on 10 hits. ESU advanced to play the loser of No. 1 Seton Hill and No. 6 Mercyhurst in another elimination game tomorrow at 11 a.m.
ESU jumped on Shippensburg early and often as the Warriors plated 18 runs on 13 hits and 10 walks through the first five innings.
Gallery: (5-19-2023) ESU vs. Shippensburg - Atlantic Regional
Notables
- Tim Haverstick bounced back with a 3-for-4 performance, recording a double, three runs batted in and a run scored
- In six at-bats, Jeremy Piatkiewicz went 3-for-4 with two walks, two RBI and four runs scored
- Jack Rothenhausler went a perfect 2-for-2, drawing a walk, while collecting a team-high four RBI and a run scored
- Logan Stirr and Parker Frey combined for four hits, three RBI and three runs
- Victor Cruz finished with a double, two RBI and four runs
- Coming off the bench, Tanner Vicendese (one RBI) and Connor Reilly (one run) both went 1-for-2
- Matt Ervolina and Mike Kelly each finished with a pair of walks and two runs
- Making the start, Tom Resinger went 4.0 scoreless innings, allowing five hits while striking out eight Raiders. JP Nolan (1-0) was credited with the win after firing a scoreless inning while Scott Shamany and Jack Nielson each pitched a clean frame for the Warriors. Jaden Newton and Quinn Warmkessel also made appearances out of the bullpen.
- Frey, Piripavel and Kelly each recorded a stolen base for the Warriors to increase the single-season school record to 182
- With the victory, the Warriors improve to 10-12 all-time in the NCAA Tournament
How it Happened – ESU 20, Shippensburg 4
Using a pair of hits and three walks in the top of the first inning, the Warriors plated five runs to take a 5-0 lead over the Raiders. After a free pass to Ervolina and a double from Cruz, Rothenhausler lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score ESU's first run. The Warriors then loaded the bases for Kelly, who worked another walk to put ESU ahead 2-0. Haverstick capped off the scoring with a bases clearing double to give the Warriors a five-run edge.
The Warriors kept their foot on the gas in the top of the second inning, adding three runs on one hit and a Shippensburg's error to extend their lead to 8-0. With one out and runners on the corners, Rothenhausler singled to left field for the first run of the frame. Then with two outs and men in scoring position, Frey reached on a fielding error which allowed two runs to cross home plate.
With two outs and runners on the corner in the top of the third inning, Rothenhausler collected his fourth RBI of the game as a two-run single pushed the Warriors' edge to 10-0.
The offensive onslaught continued for ESU in the top of the fourth inning as the Warriors scratched across six runs on five hits to grow their lead to 16-0. Piatkiewicz and Frey each drove in a pair of runs while Ervolina and Cruz also added a RBI.
ESU hung a crooked number on the board for the fifth consecutive inning as the Warriors plated two more runs for an 18-0 lead over Shippensburg. Vicendese and Cruz each collected a RBI.
From the sixth inning on, the Warriors added on two runs while the Raiders plated four runs to make the final score 20-4 in favor of ESU.
Up Next
ESU kept their season alive as the Warriors move on to face the loser of Seton Hill/Mercyhurst tomorrow in another elimination game at 11 a.m.
