STROUDSBURG – After its 15-game winning streak was snapped in a 10-5 loss in game one, the No. 13 East Stroudsburg University softball team bounced back with a 5-1 victory in game two to salvage a split with Kutztown on Tuesday afternoon at Creekview Park's Vigon International Field.

The Warriors (19-5, 1-1 PSAC East) look to start a new winning streak after the game two victory. The Golden Bears now stand at 13-8, 1-1 after the PSAC East opening doubleheader.

ESU Batting Notables

• Five Warriors registered multiple hits on the day, highlighted by Abigail Weirich and Reilly Vicendese, each going 3-7 at the plate. Weirich hit three singles and recorded an RBI, while Vicendese scored twice and made eight assists at the hot corner without committing an error, providing two RBIs in game one with an RBI single.
• Delaney Ridgell also registered two RBIs, hitting her first home run as a Warrior with a two-run shot in game two.
• Shannon Edelman contributed with two base hits.
• Kate Donaghue hit a pinch-hit home run in the first game and added a single and a stolen base in game two.
• Samantha Derickson wrapped up the scoring in game two with an RBI double.

ESU Pitching Notables

• Paige Zigmund (L, 10-2) had her nine-start winning streak end in game one, giving up 10 runs (five earned) and nine hits over 5.1 innings, striking out five and walking one. Freshman Carly Mockenhaupt closed game one without allowing a baserunner in 1.2 innings. 
• Abbie Landrum opened game two, allowing two hits and one run over three innings, striking out three and walking one.
• Sarah Davenport (W, 9-2) dominated the final four innings of game two, allowing just one hit and striking out five without a walk.
• Combined, the Warrior pitching staff allowed 12 hits across 14 innings, holding the Golden Bears to a .222 batting average and six earned runs.

How It Happened – Game 1

• Kutztown scored first, but Zigmund struck out the next three batters after a leadoff single. A dropped third strike and a walk loaded the bases, allowing Kristin Geesey to drive in two runs with a single. Zigmund limited the damage with a popout.
• After a scoreless second inning, Kutztown extended their lead to 3-0 in the third with smart base running and a sacrifice fly by Morgan Slomkowski.
• The Warriors took a 4-3 lead in the fourth inning, capitalizing on a two-RBI single by Vicendese and a throwing error by Kutztown.
• Kutztown regained the lead with four runs in the fourth, highlighted by a three-run home run by Jenna Piatkiewicz.
• Donaghue blasted a pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the 7th, but ESU could not add any additional runs in the 10-5 loss. 

How It Happened – Game 2

• After two scoreless innings, Kutztown took an early lead in the third, but ESU immediately responded with four runs in the bottom half, including a two-run homer by Ridgell.
• Davenport's pitching over the last four innings secured the win, allowing only one hit.
• An insurance run in the sixth, driven in by Derickson, sealed the 5-1 victory for ESU.

Updated NFCA Polls

• An hour before game one, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced ESU moved up to No. 13 in the latest NFCA Top-25 Coaches Poll, with Kutztown receiving four votes.

Up Next

• The Warriors return to action on Friday at Creekview Park against Shepherd, with first pitches scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m in Stroudsburg.