STROUDSBURG – The No. 17 East Stroudsburg University softball team picked up where it left the 2023 season off at Creekview Park's Vigon International Field, sweeping Holy Family in the 2024 home opener by a score of 6-1 in game one and 5-3 in the night cap on Wednesday afternoon.
The Warriors (6-4) have now won three games in a row after taking game two from Barry in the final game of their Florida trip. The Tigers (0-2) open the season with a pair of losses.
Notables
- The combo of reigning PSAC East Pitcher of the Week Paige Zigmund (W, 4-1) and Sarah Davenport (W, 2-2) dazzled the Tigers, with the duo combining for 21 strikeouts. Zigmund fanned 11 batters in game one, allowing just three hits while walking one. Davenport conceded eight hits, but fired 10 strikeouts in her debut at Creekview Park. The two combined to hold HFU to a .212 batting average and four earned runs in 14 innings of work.
- Denva Shaw-Tait smacked a two-run home run in game one to lift the Warriors to a lead in the opening game, finishing the day with two hits.
- Kaitlin Houser also produced two runs in game one, with a single to extend ESU's lead to 6-0.
- Abigail Weirich registered an RBI in both contests, with an RBI single in game one and produced a run in game two via a fielder's choice.
- Delaney Ridgell, Reilly Vicendese and Maddy Pritchard also recorded an RBI on the day. Along with Shaw-Tait, Katie Master, Ridgell, Weirich and Vicendese each smacked two hits. Taylor Lipkins smacked a double and scored two runs.
How It Happened – Game 1
- ESU opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd. After Delaney Ridgell smacked a single, Denva Shaw-Tait blasted a two-run home run with one out. After a Kaitlin Houser walk, a lineout turned into a double play.
- Zigmund retired nine batters in a row to start the game, striking out five of the first nine Tigers she faced.
- HFU recorded its first base runner in the top of the 4th with a leadoff walk. Madison Grubb then advanced to second with a wild pitch and to third with a flyout. She picked up her sixth strikeout to keep the shutout intact.
- ESU threatened in the bottom of the 4th. After a single from Shaw-Tait, she advanced to second via a wild pitch. After a walk, both courtesy-runner Maddin Grow and Kaitlin Houser advanced to third and second, respectively. A strikeout stranded both runners in scoring position.
- In the bottom of the fifth, ESU broke the game open with a four-run frame. After a leadoff walk by Taylor Lipkins, Vicendese followed with a single. Weirich smacked an RBI single to score Lipkins. On the play, HFU recorded a throwing error, with Vicendese also scoring a run to take a 4-0 lead. The Warriors weren't done scoring as with two outs, a Houser RBI single scored courtesy runner Jade Hassler and Weirich in a pair of unearned runs.
- HFU recorded its first hit and run in the top of the 6th. After a strikeout, Jaden Kelly snuck a single in between Shaw-Tait and a sliding Katie Master in right field. Kelly advanced to second with a stolen base and then went to third on a flyout. HFU's second single from Rylee Hobel sent in Kelly for HFU's lone run in the opening game.
- After a scoreless bottom of the 6th, Zigmund allowed a leadoff single but struck out the next two batters and forced a popup for her fourth win in five starts.
How it Happened – Game 2
- The Warriors opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd. After a hit-by-pitch and a walk, Shaw-Tait sent a grounder to the pitcher, with the pitcher trying to get the lead-runner out a third, but an errant throw allowed courtesy runner Jade Hassler to score on the play. ESU added a second run to its lead with Pritchard sending home Ridgell with a sacrifice fly.
- HFU got a run back in the bottom of the 3rd. After a leadoff single, a sacrifice fly later on in the frame would allow Lily Hoban to score.
- ESU tacked on two runs in the bottom of the third. After a double from Lipkins, she advanced to third on a ground out. An RBI fielder's choice allowed Lipkins to score on the play. The speedy Weirich then stole second. Ridgell sent her home with a single, as the Warriors grabbed a 4-1 edge.
- In the bottom of the 4th, Vicendese smacked an RBI single to advance Kate Donaghue home, after she led off the frame with a base hit.
- After Davenport struck out the first two batters in the top of the 5th, she allowed a solo home run, with HFU cutting the deficit to three at 5-2.
- HFU led the top of the 6th off with a home run, making it a two-run game at 5-3. Davenport then allowed two singles, but forced a strikeout and got an additional out with a fielder's choice. After a walk loaded the bases, she fanned another Tiger to keep ESU's lead at 5-3.
- ESU stranded a runner at second in the top of the 7th. Needing three outs to pick up her first win at Creekview Park, the Garden State native forced two ground outs and fired her 10th strikeout of the game to secure ESU's 5-3 win in game two.
Up Next
- No. 17 ESU battles St. Thomas Aquinas on Tues., Feb. 27 at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Creekview Park's Vigon International Field
