STROUDSBURG – The 11th-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball team got back in the win column in impressive fashion as the Warriors topped sixth-ranked Millersville twice by scores of 3-0 and 14-3 on Saturday afternoon at Creekview Park.
The Warriors, who grabbed a three-game lead over Millersville in the PSAC East standings, improved to 30-4 on the season and 18-0 in the league which continued to stretch the program record for consecutive conference victories.
Reigning NCBWA Atlantic Region and PSAC East Pitcher of the Week
Brent Francisco continued to dominate opposing hitters as the redshirt senior delivered his second straight complete-game shutout in a 3-0 series-opening victory. Francisco, who yielded three hits and struck out six Marauders, pushed his scoreless-innings streak to 19, improved to 8-0 in nine starts and lowered his ERA on the season to 1.64 to go along with the nation's best WHIP at 0.60.
ESU flexed its muscles offensively in a game two triumph as the Warriors scored 14 runs on 14 hits, which included jumping on Millersville with five runs in the first inning.
Millersville, who came into the day 18-0 in games that Carson Kulina and Connor Cook pitched, slipped to 29-7 overall and 15-3 in the PSAC East after dropping back-to-back games for the first time this season.
The Warriors have now defeated Millersville in five of the last six meetings dating back to the 2022 NCAA Tournament and today's 11-run margin of victory in game two was ESU's largest over the Marauders since 2009.
Batting Notables
- Junior Jack Rothenhausler finished the twin bill 4-for-7 with three RBI and four runs while designated hitter Cameron Hubbard went 2-for-5 with two walks and three runs
- Catching all 14 innings, redshirt senior Tim Haverstick was 3-for-6 with four RBI and one run scored
- After getting plunked twice and scoring a run in the series opener, redshirt freshman Walker Zampella went 3-for-3 with a career-high six RBI in the night cap
- In game two, redshirt sophomore Parker Frey went 2-for-3 with three runs and an RBI while redshirt freshman Chaise Albus was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, RBI and runs scored
- Jeremy Piatkiewicz was 1-for-2 in the opener and credited with the game-winning RBI as the senior drove in ESU's first run with a sacrifice fly
Pitching Notables
- Francisco continued to close in a pair of school records as the Burlington Township, N.J. native notched his 26th career victory to move one away from tying the mark of 27 held by former teammate Chase Nowak. The redshirt senior inched closer to the all-time strikeouts record as Francisco's 299 career punchouts trail Nowak (302) by four for the program high.
- Ryan Dewees improved to 4-0 in eight starts as the sophomore surrendered two runs on five hits across 5.0 innings of game two to go along with four strikeouts
- Sophomore Jaden Newton (two strikeouts) and senior Jack Nielsen came on in relief for the sixth and seventh innings
How it Happened – ESU 3, Millersville 0
ESU finally broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Warriors took advantage of a Millersville error to scratch across a run. With one out, Zampella was hit by a pitch and advanced all the way to third base on a failed pickoff attempt, before coming around to score on a sacrifice fly from Piatkiewicz to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, ESU extended their advantage to 3-0 as Haverstick delivered a two-run single through the left side to give the Warriors a three-run lead.
How it Happened – ESU 14, Millersville 3
ESU jumped on Millersville in the bottom of the first inning with five runs on six hits, which were all singles, to take a 5-0 lead. With the bases loaded, Rothenhausler and Haverstick each drove in a pair on a base hit while Zampella capped off the scoring with an RBI single.
In the home half of the second inning, the Warriors added two more runs on a pair of hits to increase their edge to 7-0. After the first two runners reached and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, Rothenhausler delivered a run scoring single to plate Wall, before Frey collected an RBI with a sacrifice fly to left field.
The offensive onslaught continued in the bottom of the fourth inning as ESU manufactured four runs using two hits to stretch the lead to 11-0. After three consecutive walks to begin the frame loaded the bases, Albus drove in a pair with a single before Zampella followed with a bases clearing knock.
Millersville finally got on the scoreboard with two runs on three hits in the top of the fifth inning to make the score 11-2 in favor of ESU as Amani Jones and John Seibert collected RBI.
ESU answered right back in the bottom half of the inning as Zampella cleared the bases with a two-out three-run double to push the Warriors' lead back to 14-2.
The Marauders added one run in the top of the sixth inning to make the final score 14-3 as Justin Taylor beat out an infield single to the pitcher with the bases loaded.
Up Next
ESU and Millersville conclude the PSAC East series tomorrow at Cooper Park with a twin bill getting underway at 1 p.m.
