LOCK HAVEN – The 24th-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball team opened PSAC East play by taking both games of the doubleheader from Lock Haven on Friday afternoon at Watkins Field.
The Warriors thumped Lock Haven in the series opener, 13-0, and scored eight runs in the top of the fifth inning of game two to earn an 8-2 victory.
ESU extended their win streak to six as the Warriors improved to 9-3 overall and 2-0 in the PSAC East, while the Bald Eagles dropped to 3-9 on the season and 0-2 in the conference.
Notables
Game One
- Four Warriors recorded a pair of hits including sophomore Shanley Wall, who went 2-for-4 with his first career home run, three RBI and two runs scored
- Redshirt junior Cameron Hubbard and redshirt senior Tim Haverstick each went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while redshirt sophomore Park Frey finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in
- Mike Kelly (1-for-4, walk, two runs), Jack Rothenhausler (1-for-3, walk, three runs) and Chaise Albus (1-for-1, two walks, two runs) each collected an RBI while combing for seven runs and four walks
- Led by redshirt senior Brent Francisco (3-0), who collected his third victory of the season after twirling 5.0 shutout innings and striking out five, ESU pitching limited the Bald Eagles to one hit as redshirt freshman J.J. Hood and freshman Peyton Brannock both fired a cleaning inning of work in relief.
- Francisco collected his 21st career victory to pull with six of the school record (27 – Nowak) and his 269 punchouts trail former teammate Chase Nowak (302) by 33 for the program high.
- The Warriors went a perfect 3-for-3 on stolen bases as Wall, Hubbard and Kelly each swiped a bag
Game Two
- Walker Zampella (2-for-4) and Rothenhausler (1-for-2, walk) supplied the offense in game two as duo finished a combined 3-for-6 with two doubles, four RBI and a run scored
- Starting the second game behind the plate, sophomore Connor Reilly went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored, while Haverstick was 1-for-4 with an RBI as the designated hitter
- Additionally driving in runs for the Warriors was Albus (1-for-4, run), Frey (1-for-3, walk, run) and Jeremy Piatkiewicz (1-for-2, walk, run)
- Nick McAuliffe improved to 3-1 on the mound as the senior fired 4.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits to earn the victory. A trio of freshman impressed out of the bullpen as Jack Bacolo, Johansel Brito and Jake Albert all pitched an inning of relief while combing for three strikeouts.
- With the sweep, ESU improved to 62-36 all-time against Lock Haven and have now defeated the Bald Eagles in 10 of the last 11 meetings dating back to 2019
How it Happened – ESU 13, Lock Haven 0 (Game One)
It didn't take long for ESU to get on the scoreboard as the Warriors plated one run in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Kelly led off with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error before coming around to score on an RBI single up the middle from Hubbard.
ESU carried over momentum into the top of the second inning as the Warriors exploded for eight runs on seven hits to extend their advantage to 9-0. Frey got the scoring started with a run scoring double before Kelly, Wall (2), Hubbard, Albus and Haverstick followed with RBI singles to make the score 8-0. In his second at-bat, Frey capped off the offensive onslaught with his second RBI of the inning on a base hit.
With two outs in the top of the third inning, Wall stretched ESU's lead to 10-0 as the sophomore belted a solo home run down the right field line.
The Warriors pushed their edge to 11-0 in the top of the fourth inning when Zampella worked a bases loaded walk to drive in another run.
ESU made the final score 13-0 in the top half of the fifth inning when Rothenhausler doubled home
Colin Houck, before crossing home plate on a single up the middle from Haverstick.
How it Happened – ESU 8, Lock Haven 2 (Game Two)
Lock Haven plated the game's first run in their opening at-bats as Zachary McEllroy reached on a fielder's choice to score Francisco Tavares, who led off with a double down the left field line.
ESU finally broke through in the top of the fifth inning as the Warriors scored eight runs on seven hits to grab an 8-1 lead. Piatkiewicz tied it up at 1-1 with a single to right field that brought home Reilly, who led off the frame with a double. Then with the bases loaded, Albus delivered an RBI single to put ESU ahead for the first time and Rothehausler followed with a two-run double to make the score 4-1. The Warriors continued to add to their lead as Haverstick drove in a run on a groundout, Frey with an RBI single and Zampella with a two-run double.
The Bald Eagles scored their second run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when Tavares reached on a fielder's choice to plate Dante Bruno, making the final score 8-2 in favor of ESU.
Up Next
Due to forecasted inclement weather, the Warriors and Bald Eagles will conclude the PSAC East series on Sunday with a doubleheader at Creekview Park. The first pitch is scheduled for noon.
