MURFREESBORO, N.C. – After dropping today's opener to Chowan, the East Stroudsburg University baseball team found themselves trailing 6-0 in game two before scoring 16 unanswered runs to split the final two games and win the series on Sunday at Hawkins Field.
The Warriors took three out of four games from the Hawks (2-7) following yesterday's sweep and return to the Poconos 4-3 overall.
Notables
Game One
- Junior Jack Rothenhausler went 1-for-3 with an RBI while sophomore Colin Houck finished 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored off the bench
- Redshirt junior Matt Ervolina (one run, one walk), fellow classmate Cameron Hubbard, redshirt sophomore Parker Frey, redshirt freshman Chaise Albus and sophomore Shanley Wall each had a hit for the Warriors
- Making his second start of the season, sophomore Ryan Dewees earned the no-decision after allowing two runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings of work
- Johansel Brito (1-1) was handed the loss as the freshman surrendered two three runs (two earned) in 0.2 innings out of the pen. Freshman Jack Bacolo struck out one in 0.2 innings pitched.
- Chowan's Jayden Bailey (1-0) was credited with the win in relief and Angel Diaz (1) earned the save
Game Two
- Mike Kelly supplied the offense in game two as the redshirt senior went 3-for-5, which included a go-ahead grand slam in the fifth inning, five RBI and one run scored. It marked the second bases-clearing home run of the season for ESU as Tim Haverstick recorded a grand slam versus Felician (2/10).
- Speaking of Haverstick, the redshirt senior was 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and solo blast, as well as two walks, four RBI and three runs.
- Sophomore Connor Reilly (two runs, HR) and Wall (one run) each went 2-for-5
- Jeremy Piatkiewicz was a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs and one RBI while Rothenhausler (two runs) and Frey (one run, one walk) each had a hit
- Following a rough start for ESU pitchers, the Warriors settled in behind freshman Carson Renner (1-0), who earned his first career victory after firing 2.2 scoreless and punching out a pair. Fellow classmate Jake Albert followed with two more scoreless frames and redshirt freshman J.J. Hood closed out with a cleaning inning.
How it Happened – Chowan 5, ESU 2 (Game One)
With runners on the corners and two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Chowan struck first as Ryan Bellamy delivered an RBI single up the middle to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Chowan put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the third inning to extend their advantage to 2-0 when Bellmay doubled, and Rowan Hudson followed with a run-scoring single.
ESU broke through in the top of the fifth inning as the Warriors pushed across two runs with two outs to even the score at 2-2. Ervolina got the rally started with a walk before coming around to score on a double from Houck, who eventually crossed home on an RBI single from Rothenhausler through the left side.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Chowan regained a 5-2 lead when Geomar Santana singled home a pair and Dawerlyn Amanico reached on a bases loaded error to force in a run.
How it Happened – ESU 16, Chowan 6 (Game Two)
Chowan broke the game open in the bottom of the second inning as the Hawks used three hits to score six runs. Christian Allen highlighted the frame with a three-run home run while Elvis Rumaldo and Bellamy were each credited with an RBI.
In the top of the fourth inning, ESU pulled within one run as the Warriors manufactured five runs on four hits. After Frey doubled and Houck walked with one out, Haverstick crushed a three-run blast to center field to cut Chowan's lead in half. Reilly followed with back-to-back home runs and Ervolina drove in another run when he reached on a fielder's choice.
ESU carried over momentum into the top of the fifth inning, scoring six runs with two outs to take their first lead of the game at 11-6. Piatkiewicz tied it up at 6-6 after working a bases loaded walk and Kelly cleared the bases with a home run to right field to put the Warriors ahead. Wall capped off the scoring in the inning with an RBI single to center field.
The offensive onslaught continued with another crocked number in the top of the sixth inning as ESU hung up five additional runs to increase their advantage to 16-6. Haverstick led off with a solo blast to center field while Kelly and Ervolina were both credited with RBIs on groundouts. The Warriors pushed across their final two runs following errors by Chowan.
Up Next
After a scheduled off weekend, ESU returns to Creekview Park for the first time this season as the Warriors welcome Saint Anselm for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 2
