WILSON, N.C. – After dropping the opener to Barton, the East Stroudsburg University baseball team bounced back with a come-from-behind victory over Felician to salvage a split on Saturday at Nixon Field.
ESU (1-2) lost today's first game to the Bulldogs, 6-4, before mounting a 10-9 comeback win over the Golden Falcons (1-2) in the final contest of the weekend. The Warriors found themselves trailing 6-1 until three runs in the fourth inning and five runs in the sixth inning gave ESU a 9-7 edge they wouldn't surrender.
Due to the threat of inclement weather, the Warriors final game of the weekend tomorrow against Barton at 2 p.m. has been canceled.
Notables
Game One
- Redshirt junior Cam Hubbard finished 3-for-4 with a double and redshirt senior Tim Haverstick went 2-for-4 with a run scored
- Redshirt junior Matt Ervolina, sophomore Colin Houck (two runs), redshirt senior Ben Piripavel (two RBI) and sophomore Connor Reilly (one RBI) each had a single
- Despite striking out seven Bulldogs in 4.0 innings of work, senior Nick McAuliffe (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks. ESU's bullpen was lights out the rest of the way as Quinn Warmkessel (2.0 innings), Jack Nielsen (1.0 innings) and Jake Albert (1.0 innings) allowed only three hits while punching out six in 5.0 innings pitched
- Barton's Tanner Halvorson earned the win as he fired 7.0 innings, allowing one run on five hits to go along with nine strikeouts
- Offensively, Jared Beebe went 2-for-4 with three RBI while Luis Sauri added a pair of hits. Chase Waddell, Gavin Glimore and Halvorson each collected an RBI for the Bulldogs.
Game Two
- Haverstick supplied the offense in game two as the Marlton, N.J. native went 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored which included a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the sixth inning. It marks the first grand slam of Haverstick's career and the first since Ervolina cleared the bases back on April 22, 2023.
- Making the start in left field, redshirt freshman Chaise Albus went 2-for-4 with a double, walk, RBI and run scored while sophomore Shanley Wall added a pair of singles and one run
- Mike Kelly, Jeremy Piatkiewicz, Ervolina and Hubbard each recorded a hit and RBI while Parker Frey came around to score twice
- After Felician tagged sophomore Ryan Dewees (1.0 innings, four hits, four runs) and freshman Gavin Sopko (3.2 innings, five hits, three runs) early in the game, the Warriors pitching staff settled in as freshman Johansel Brito earned the victory after firing 2.1 scoreless innings in relief. After sophomore Jaden Newton recorded one out in the eighth inning, Caden Parker was nails the rest of the way as the junior transfer pitched the final 1.2 innings to earn his first save as a Warrior
- Julian Uejima paced the Golden Falcons with three RBI while Ricky Voss and Jack Scrivanic each drove in a pair of runs
How it Happened – Barton 6, ESU 4 (Game One)
Barton hung a crocked number in the bottom of the first inning as the Bulldogs plated four runs on four hits to grab a 4-0 lead. Chase Waddell drove in the game's first run with an RBI single and two batters later Jared Beebe belted a three-run home run to center field.
With two outs in the bottom of the second inning, Barton extended the advantage to 5-0 as Tanner Halvorson delivered a run scoring double to left center field.
The Bulldogs added one more run in the home half of the third inning when Gavin Gilmore hit a two-out solo home run to right field making the score 6-0.
ESU got on the scoreboard in top of the seventh with two outs as Reilly produced an RBI single to center field to plate Houck.
The Warriors wouldn't go down without a fight in their final at-bats as they pushed across two runs on three hits to make the final score 6-3. Houck and Haverstick led off the frame with back-to-back singles before advancing on a passed ball and coming around to score on a base hit from Piripavel. ESU had the tying run on base with runners on the corners and one out, but the Bulldogs used a strikeout and popout to end the game.
How it Happened – ESU 10, Felician 9 (Game Two)
ESU grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Hubbard singled home Kelly, who led off the game with a walk before advancing to second on a wild pitch.
In the home half of the inning, Felician answered in a hurry as the Golden Falcons scored four runs on four hits to jump in front 4-1. Voss drove in a pair on a single to right field while Scrivanic and Uejima each collected an RBI.
The Golden Falcons increased their lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the third inning when Uejima belted a two-run homer over the left centerfield fence.
ESU slowly chipped away in the top of the fourth inning as the Warriors pushed across three runs on four hits to trim the deficit to 6-4. Albus delivered an RBI single through the right side with runners on the corners and after a Wall base hit loaded the bases, Piatkiewicz worked a walk to drive in another run. Following a pitching change, Kelly recorded an RBI ground out to get ESU within two runs.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Scrivanic got a run back for the Golden Falcons with a solo home run to left field to make the score 7-4.
The Warriors finally broke through with a crooked number in the top of the sixth inning as ESU took advantage of a two-out error from Felician by scoring five runs to give them a 9-7 edge. With the bases loaded and two outs, Frey hit a ball at third baseman that was booted which allowed Ervolina to race home. Then on the first pitch of his at-bat, Haverstick crushed a bases clearing home run over the left center field wall to put ESU ahead for the first time.
ESU added an insurance run in the very next inning as Ervolina delivered a sacrifice fly to make the score 10-7 in favor of the Warriors.
Felician wouldn't go down without a fight as the Golden Falcons pushed across two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to draw with one at 10-9. A Warriors' fielding error allowed the first run home and Anthony Lamar drove in another with an RBI single.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Felician put the game-winning run on base with one out until Parker induced consecutive ground outs to close out the victory for ESU.
Up Next
Due to the threat of inclement weather, the Warriors final game of the weekend tomorrow against Barton at 2 p.m. has been canceled. ESU returns to the diamond next Saturday with a doubleheader at Chowan.
