MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The East Stroudsburg University baseball team opened the weekend by sweeping the doubleheader against Chowan on Saturday at Hawkins Field.
In the opener, the Warriors (3-2) limited Chowan (1-7) to two hits in the 11-0 victory which included an eight-run explosion in the top of the sixth inning and six scoreless innings from redshirt senior
Brent Francisco. In game two, ESU raced out to a 5-0 lead after the first inning and ultimately held on for the 6-4 win.
Notables
Game One
- Matt Ervolina was one of three Warriors with two hits as redshirt junior went 2-for-4 with a double, home run, three RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base
- Reigning NCBWA Atlantic Region Hitter of the Tim Haverstick finished 2-for-4 with a walk, RBI and run scored
- Making his third start as a Warrior, sophomore Colin Houck was 2-for-5 with his first career home run, two RBI and two runs scored
- Out of the leadoff spot, redshirt senior Mike Kelly was 1-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base
- Junior Cameron Hubbard (one RBI, one run), redshirt senior Ben Piripavel and sophomore Shanley Wall (one run) each collected a hit
- Francisco (1-0) was magnificent on the mound as the redshirt senior fired 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits while striking out eight. It marked the 19th win of his career, which ranks tied for third all-time and his 257 career strikeouts are only 46 away from surpassing former teammate Chase Nowak's mark of 302 (2019-23).
- Junior Greg Wiley, freshman Peyton Brannock and senior Jack Nielsen were lights out in relief as the trio each pitched a scoreless inning while combing for five strikeouts
- Chowan's Nicky Wohleking suffered the loss after yielding three runs on four hits in 5.0 innings pitched. ESU tagged Dylan Nickle, who failed to record an out, for six runs (five earned) on three hits and two walks in the sixth inning to break the game open.
Game Two
- Ervolina continued to swing a hot bat in game two as the Breinigsville native finished 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs and a pair of steals
- Making his third start of the season, redshirt freshman Chaise Albus went 2-for-4 with a single and a double
- Hubbard (one run), Houck (one run) and Kelly each had a hit, one RBI and a walk
- Sophomore Shanley Wall and redshirt sophomore Parker Frey each went 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored
- Nick McAuliffe (1-1) earned his first victory of the season as the senior pitched 4.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out four. Caden Parker was brilliant out of the pen as the junior transfer notched his second save of the season following 2.1 scoreless innings and three strikeouts.
How it Happened – ESU 11, Chowan 0 (Game One)
ESU jumped on Chowan in the top of the first inning as the Warriors used three hits to plate a pair of runs. Back-to-back one-out doubles from Ervolina and Hubbard got the Warriors on the board and an RBI single by Haverstick gave ESU a 2-0 lead.
Houck extended the Warriors' lead to 3-0 in the top of the third inning as the sophomore belted a solo home run over the left field fence.
In the top of the sixth inning, ESU's offense exploded as the Warriors pushed across eight additional runs on six hits to increase their edge to 11-0. Houck got the scoring started with an RBI base hit and two more runs came across following consecutive bases loaded walks to Reilly and Piatkiewicz. Kelly knocked in a pair on a single through the right side and Ervolina capped off the onslaught with a three-run homer to right field.
How it Happened – ESU 6, Chowan 4 (Game Two)
ESU carried over momentum into game two as the Warriors scored five runs on five hits in the top of the first inning to secure a 5-0 lead. Wall and Ervolina led off with consecutive base hits before coming around to score on wild pitches. Houck put ESU ahead 3-0 with an RBI single through the left side and then with the bases loaded, Kelly delivered a run-scoring infield single. Piatkiewicz capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Warriors extended their lead to 6-0 in the top of fourth inning when Hubbard drove home Ervolina, who delivered a one-out single and stole second to get into scoring position.
Chowan broke a 12-inning scoreless drought in the home half of the frame as the Hawks pushed across two runs, cutting into ESU's lead at 6-2. Christian Bartholomew brought home the first run on a sacrifice fly and Ty Johnson followed with an RBI single.
The Hawks continued to inch closer in the bottom of the fifth inning when Elvis Rumaldo singled home a pair to ultimately make the final score 6-4 in favor of ESU.
Up Next
ESU is right back on the diamond on Sunday as the Warriors play another twin bill against Chowan beginning at 11:00 a.m.
