WILSON, N.C. – Despite trailing by one run following the seventh inning (10-9), the East Stroudsburg University baseball team dropped its season-opener to Felician, 16-10, on Friday morning at Nixon Field.
In the season-opener for both teams, the Warriors slipped to 0-1 while the Golden Falcons (1-1) improved to 1-0 before falling to Barton in the afternoon contest.
ESU exploded offensively as the Warriors plated 10 runs on 14 hits which included five players with two base knocks apiece.
Notables
- Making his third career start, redshirt freshman Chaise Albus went 2-for-4 with three RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases as the designated hitter
- Redshirt senior Tim Haverstick was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while fellow classmate Mike Kelly finished with two hits, two RBI and a stolen base
- Sophomores Shanley Wall and Parker Frey (two runs) each collected a pair of hits while senior Jeremy Piatkiewicz and junior Matt Ervolina combined for three RBI, three runs scored and two hits
- Jack Scrivanic paced the Golden Falcons offensively as he finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs while Haiden Walters, Dauri Genao and Thomas Kendrick each had two hits to go with seven combined RBI
- Starting the first game of the season for the Warriors, redshirt senior Brent Francisco earned the no-decision after allowing three runs on three hits in five innings of work while striking out seven Golden Falcons
- Jaden Newton was tagged with the loss as the sophomore surrendered four runs on three hits in only 0.2 innings pitched. Junior Caden Parker (0.1 innings) as well as freshmen Carson Renner (1.0 innings), Peyton Brannock (0.2 innings) and Jack Bacolo (0.2 innings) made their ESU debuts on the mound
- ESU and Felician combined for 11 errors which included an uncharacteristic five miscues from the Warriors
How it Happened – Felician 16, ESU 10
The Golden Falcons struck first in the top of the second inning as Scrivanic belted a two-run home run to left field after Dauri Genao set the table with a single to lead off.
ESU broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning as the Warriors used four hits to plate three runs, taking a 3-2 lead. Frey led off with a single and came around to score after a double to center field from Ervolina. Albus followed with an RBI single to tie the game and Haverstick put the Warriors in front with a run scoring base hit.
Felician tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth inning as Scrivanic crossed home plate following a leadoff double to left field. Kendrick was credited with the RBI on a line out to first base.
In the top of the sixth inning, Felician broke the game open with six runs on five hits to regain a 9-3 advantage. Highlighting the frame for the Golden Falcons was Julian Uejima and Walter with RBI doubles that scored two runs apiece.
The Warriors got one run back in the home half of the inning as Albus led off with a single before stealing second, third and coming around to score on sacrifice fly from Piatkiewicz.
The Golden Falcons responded in the top of the seventh inning as Jose David Medrano drew a bases loaded walk with two outs to reclaim a six-run lead at 10-4.
ESU wouldn't go down without a fight as the Warriors used four hits and a pair of Felician errors in the bottom of the seventh inning to plate five runs which cut the deficit to 10-9. With the bases loaded and no outs, Albus hit a booted ball to the second baseman that allowed Frey and Rothenhausler to race home. Piatkiewicz followed with an RBI single and then with runners on the corners, Haverstick delivered a sacrifice fly to make the score 10-8. The Warriors scratched across their final run of the frame as a throwing error on a double play ball allowed Piatkiewicz to score.
In the top half of the eighth inning, Felician put together a two-out rally as Ricky Voss walked on six pitches before Genao delivered a two-run blast to left field to give the Golden Falcons a 12-9 lead.
Felician put the game nearly out of reach in the final inning as the Golden Falcons tacked on four runs before ESU answered with one in the home half of the frame to make the final score 16-10.
Up Next
ESU is right back at it tomorrow with a pair of single nine-inning games against Barton at 10 a.m. and Felician at 2 p.m.
