EAST STROUDSBURG – The 21st-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball team completed its second straight four-game of a PSAC East opponent and extended its winning streak to 12 with 7-4 and 10-8 victories over Shepherd on Saturday at Fairfax Field.
The Warriors improved to 15-3 overall and remained a perfect 8-0 in the PSAC East while the Rams dropped to 5-11 on the season and 0-4 in the conference.
ESU improved to 12-4-1 all-time against Shepherd and have now defeated the Rams in eight of the last 10 meetings dating back to 2022.
Batting Notables
- Shanley Wall continued to swing a red-hot bat as the PSAC East Athlete of the week finished the twin bill 5-for-9 with two doubles, four RBI and a run scored
- Out of the leadoff spot, redshirt senior Mike Kelly was 4-for-9 with his second home run of the season, five RBI and four runs
- Redshirt sophomore Parker Frey extended his hit streak to 14-games as the redshirt sophomore went 5-for-6 with a double, two RBI and run scored
- In game two, senior Jeremy Piatkiewicz was 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored
- Junior Jack Rothenhausler finished the day 3-for-5 with an RBI and run scored
- The Warriors went 5-for-6 on stolen bases as Cameron Hubbard (2), Chaise Albus, Kelly and Wall swiped a bag
Pitching Notables
- Ryan Dewees improved to 3-0 in the opener as the sophomore pitched 4.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits to go along with six strikeouts. Dewees extended his scoreless streak to 16 innings before yielding a home run in the fourth inning.
- Freshman Jack Bacolo struck out a pair in 2.1 innings of relief before Caden Parker recorded the final out of the game to earn his fifth save of the year. The junior returned in game two to notch his sixth save in as many tries as he punched out the final batter after loading the bases.
- Peyton Brannock (1-0) earned his first career collegiate victory in the series finale as the freshman threw 2.1 innings (three hits, four runs) and struck out four
- Gavin Sopko was credited with a no-decision in his third career start as the freshman fired 3.0 innings, surrendering two runs on five hits while striking out a career-high five
- Freshman Johansel Brito and sophomore Jaden Newton each threw 0.2 innings out of the bullpen
How it Happened – ESU 7, Shepherd 4 (Game One)
ESU put together a two-out rally in the top of third inning as Kelly singled and stole second before Wall delivered a double to left-center field to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead.
ESU broke the game open in the top of the fourth inning using four hits and three walks to push across five runs, extending their lead to 6-0. With the bases loaded, Albus worked a walk and Zampella followed with a sacrifice fly to make the score 3-0. Then with two outs, Kelly cleared the bases on a two-run double, before coming around to score on an RBI single from Wall to left field.
Shepherd cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fifth inning when Collin Snyder belted a three-run home run to left field to make the score 6-3. Wyatt Miles and Brayden Meskill set the table with back-to-back singles to lead off the frame.
The Warriors added an insurance in their final at-bats as Rothenhausler delivered a sacrifice fly with runners on second and third to make the score 7-3 in favor of ESU.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Greg Borges singled home Snyder to get the Rams within three runs, but Parker came on in relief to record the final out.
How it Happened – ESU 10, Shepherd 8 (Game Two)
ESU carried over momentum into the series finale as the Warriors scored one run on two hits in the bottom of the first inning. After back-to-back base hits from Wall and Kelly, a fly ball put runners on the corners which allowed Frey's sacrifice fly to score the game's first run.
The Rams answered in the home half of the inning when Corey Jamison delivered a solo home run to right field to tie the score at 1-1.
Shepherd put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the third inning after Aidan Greaney singled and Idris Carter walked which set up Miles for an RBI base hit to give the Rams a 2-1 lead.
The Warriors regained a 4-2 advantage in the top of the fourth inning after Kelly crushed a three-run home run to right field. With one out,
Troy Davis worked a four-pitch walk and Piatkiewicz singled to set up the redshirt senior.
In the home half of the inning, the Rams tied it back up at 4-4 with an RBI single from Bodie Pullen, before he came around to score on a sacrifice from Connor Dewees.
The back-and-forth game continued in the top of the fifth inning as ESU scored three runs with two outs to go back ahead 7-4. With the bases loaded, Wall produced a two-run double to left field and after a walk to Rothenhausler, Frey collected an RBI after getting hit by a pitch.
ESU continued to execute with two outs as Piatkiewicz belted a two-run home run to right field to give the Warriors a 9-4 lead in the top of the sixth inning.
Shepherd pulled right back within three runs in the bottom half of the frame with a solo home run from Gorges and a balk that allowed Greany to make the score 9-6.
The Warriors' insurance run in the top of the seventh inning proved to be important as Shepherd cut the score to 10-8 in their final at-bats before Parker struck out the Rams' final batter with the bases loaded.
Up Next
ESU is back on the road Tuesday as the Warriors are scheduled to travel to Pace for a single nine-inning game against the Setters at 3:30 p.m. from Peter X. Finnerty Field
