EAST STROUDSBURG – The No. 15 East Stroudsburg University softball team's pitching staff combined for 24 strikeouts and allowed just two runs and five hits in a sweep (7-2, 3-0) of Georgian Court on Wednesday at Creekview Park's Vigon International Field.
The Warriors (12-4) extend their winning streak to nine with the two victories. The Lions fall to 3-7 on the season.
Pitching Notables
- The Warriors fired 12 strikeouts in each game, with Paige Zigmund (W, 7-1) tossing a career-high 12 in the opening game for her fifth consecutive victory. In eight starts this season, she has fired 55 strikeouts in 51 innings, holding foes to a .172 batting average.
- After allowing a home run in the second inning, Zigmund dominated, allowing just one runner via an error after the second inning. She set a new career with 12 strikeouts in her fifth consecutive victory.
- Sarah Davenport allowed two hits in four innings of work in relief, striking out eight batters, while walking four in game two. Abbie Landrum started game two, not allowing a hit in three innings, while striking out four.
- The trio of Zigmund, Landrum and Davenport combined to allow a .104 batting average on the day and just two earned runs in 14 innings.
Hitting Notables
- With game two tied 0-0 with one out in the bottom of the 6th in game two, Abigail Weirich connected on a go-ahead three-run home run to lift the Warriors to the sweep. The home run for the Jessup, Md. native is the second over her past three games. Over the past three games, the junior has gone 6-10 from the plate with six runs scored.
- Delaney Ridgell extended her hitting streak to 10 with hits in both contests, going 3-6 with two RBIs.
- Kaitlon Houser drove in a pair of runs in game one, with a sacrifice fly to lift ESU to a 3-2 lead, along with extending the Warriors' advantage to 6-2 with an RBI single.
- Katie Master also blasted a home run, smacking a solo home run to cut ESU's deficit to one in the opening contest.
- Kate Donaghue also recorded an RBI, with an RBI single to extend ESU's lead to 4-2 in game one.
How It Happened – Game 1
- Georgian Court struck first, as an RBI double down the left field line by Kaitlyn Stufft scored Adriana Mungo.
- Jayda Jones extended the Lions' lead with a solo home run to left center with two outs in the top of the second. Zigmund responded with her third strikeout of the frame.
- Zigmund avoided allowing a third run, in the third frame after allowing a leadoff walk, stranding Cheyene Jackson on third base.
- Master blasted her third home run over her past four games to cut the deficit to 2-1.
- Zigmund settled in nicely, striking out the side in the bottom of the 4th for her seventh, eighth and ninth strikeouts.
- The Warriors took the lead in the bottom of the 4th, with three runs. A Ridgell RBI single, Houser RBI sacrifice fly and a Donaghue RBI single accounted for the three runs, taking a 4-2 advantage.
- ESU put up another three-spot in the bottom of the 5th. After starting the frame with a pair of singles, an error loaded the bases. Ridgell and Houser smacked RBI singles to make it a 6-2 contest. The Warriors added another run, on a double play for the final score of 7-2.
- After allowing a run in each of the first two innings, Zigmund did not allow a hit after the first batter in the second inning. GCU's lone runner on the basepaths came in the top of the 6th on an error.
How It Happened – Game 2
- Landrum allowed just one base-runner across this first three innings, with a throwing error.
- Davenport allowed GCU's first hit - a leadoff double - in the fourth inning. After advancing to third base on a one-out wild pitch, Davenport fired a strikeout for the second out. Jadalynn Rodriguez stole second without a throw, as ESU got out of the inning with a lineout to shortstop.
- With one out in the bottom of the 5th, Shannon Edelman singled and Maddy Prichard followed with a double to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Pinch-hitter Shannon Harvey sent a fly ball to right field, but right fielder Jayda Jones caught the fly ball and threw out pinch-runner Maddin Grow on the play to end the inning.
- Davenport stranded the bases loaded in the top of the 6th to keep the game scoreless. After a ground out, Davenport issued a walk. She powered a strikeout for the second out. After allowing a single to put runners on first and second, she walked another Lion. Davenport settled and registered a strikeout to keep the shutout intact.
- The Warriors responded in the bottom of the 6th. Master led off the inning with a single, as GCU switched pitchers. A wild pitch put Master in scoring position, as Taylor Lipkins smacked a single to put runners on the corners. Weirich came up clutch with her second home run in three games to propel ESU to its ninth consecutive win.
- Davenport walked a batter that later advanced to second on a wild pitch, but the Garden State freshman ultimately struck out three batters in the inning to pick up her fifth win.
Up Next
- The Warriors continue their home stand on Friday against Felician (3-5). First pitches are set for 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Creekview Park.
