STROUDSBURG – The 17th-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball matched their longest winning streak in program history as the Warriors swept St. Thomas Aquinas in a doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Creekview Park to win their 14th and 15th consecutive games.
The Warriors, who have now gone 17-3 through the first 20 games in each of the last three seasons, improved to 18-3 overall and a perfect 9-0 on their home turf. ESU won the series-opener 8-2 before scoring five unanswered runs in 5-3 come-from-behind victory over the Spartans (9-11) in the night cap.
Batting Notables
- Mike Kelly continued to pace ESU offensively out of the leadoff spot as the redshirt senior extended his hit streak to eight games with a 4-for-7 performance to go along with two runs and one RBI
- Parker Frey continued his hot stretch at the plate as the redshirt sophomore was 2-for-3 with two walks, his second triple of the season, three RBI and a run
- Redshirt freshman Chaise Albus went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run while junior Jack Rothenhausler was 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored
- Serving as the designated hitter in both games, Cameron Hubbard finished 2-for-6 with two doubles, three RBI and three runs
- Sophomore Shanley Wall (1-for-4) totaled a double, two walks and three runs scored
- ESU finished the day 6-for-7 on stolen base attempts as Kelly (2), Albus, Hubbard, Rothenhausler and Wall each swiped at least one bag
Pitching Notables
- Brent Francisco improved to 5-0 on the season as the redshirt senior fired his second complete game of the year and fourth of his career, allowing two runs on six hits to go along with five strikeouts
- Francisco notched his 23rd career victory to move into a tie for second all-time with Matt Festa (23-7, 2014-16) and is now four wins away from tying the school record (27 – Nowak). The Burlington Township native's 284 career punchouts trail former teammate Chase Nowak (302) by 18 for the program high.
- A pair of freshman were lights out for ESU out of the bullpen in game two as first-year student Johansel Brito (2-1) was credited with the victory after striking out a pair in an inning of relief
- Carson Renner notched his first career save as the freshman fired the final 2.0 innings and punching out a pair
- Nick McAuliffe earned the no-decision in sixth start of the season as the senior yielded three runs on four hits in 4.0 innings pitched while striking out seven Spartans
How it Happened – ESU 8, STAC 2 (Game One)
ESU wasted no time jumping on STAC as the Warriors used two hits and a walk to push across a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Following a one-out walk to Wall, the sophomore stole second and came around to score on a double from Hubbard. With two outs, Frey extended the Warriors lead to 2-0 with an RBI triple to right field.
In the bottom of the third inning, ESU used a two-out RBI single from Haverstick to extend their advantage to 3-0 over the Spartans. Rothenhausler moved into scoring position after getting hit by a pitch and stealing second.
STAC broke through in the top of the fifth inning as the Spartans used four hits to score two runs, trimming their deficit to 3-2. Chris Ewing singled through the left side to drive in STAC's first run and with two outs, David Potenza delivered an RBI base hit to pull the Spartans within one.
The Warriors got the run right back in the bottom half of the inning to regain a 4-2 lead as Albus produced a sacrifice fly to center field. With one out Frey and Haverstick worked back-to-back walks before moving into scoring position on a wild pitch.
ESU put the game out of reach in their final plate appearances as the Warriors added four insurance runs on three hits to take an 8-2 edge. Rothenhausler knocked in a pair on a double down the left field line, before coming around to score on sacrifice fly from Frey. Hubbard raced home on a wild pitch for the seventh run.
How it Happened – ESU 5, STAC 3 (Game Two)
STAC grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning as C.J. Cumbo produced a one-out solo home run to center field before Sean Lynch belted a two-run blast to left field.
ESU scratched across a two-out run in the bottom half of the inning to cut their deficit to 3-1 when Kelly singled home Albus, who led off the inning with a base hit before stealing second to move into scoring position.
The Warriors continued to chip away in the home half of the fourth inning as another two-out RBI single got ESU within one run at 3-2. Rothenhausler walked with one out, advanced to second on a passed ball and moved to third on a fly ball before coming around to score on base hit off the bat of Albus.
ESU scored for the third straight inning in the bottom of the fifth as the Warriors plated three runs on three hits to take their first lead of the game at 5-3. With runners on first and second, Hubbard roped a ball down the left field line for a two-run double, before crossing home plate on a sacrifice fly from Parker.
Up Next
The Warriors and Spartans close out the series on Sunday with a single nine-inning game at 1 p.m. from Creekview Park
