STROUDSBURG – After a pair of tough road doubleheaders against Shippensburg and Kutztown, the 14th-ranked East Stroudsburg University softball team returned to its winning ways at home, sweeping West Chester with a pair of comeback wins, 4-3, 5-1 on Friday afternoon at Creekview Park's Vigon International Field.
With the sweep, the Warriors (36-12, 18-8 PSAC East) now sit in sole possession of first place in the PSAC East. The Golden Rams (26-17, 14-10 PSAC East) drop to fourth place in the standings.
In game one, ESU trailed 3-1 in the bottom of the 7th, before rallying to walk off with a 4-3 victory. The Warriors trailed 1-0 after three innings, before scoring five unanswered runs in a 5-1 victory in game two.
Batting Notables
Pitching Notables
- Paige Zigmund (W, 16-6) picked up the win in game one, allowing two earned runs (3 total), while striking out five in the complete-game performance. She scattered nine hits and walked just one batter.
- Sarah Davenport (W, 19-5) allowed five singles without issuing an extra-base hit. She fanned nine Golden Rams and gave up just one earned run and walk in seven innings of action.
How It Happened – Game 1
- The contest remained quiet on the scoreboard until the bottom of the 3rd. With one out and runner's on first and second, a fielder's choice got an out at second base, but a run would score on a head's up play by Lipkins, who rounded third and kept going to lift ESU to a 1-0 edge.
- WCU responded in its next at-bats in the top of the 4th. With two outs and runners on the corners, an RBI single by Mairead Hopkins knotted the contest at 1-1.
- The Golden Rams took its first lead in the top of the 5th. After a single and an error allowed a runner to reach second, a single and sacrifice fly allowed WCU's second run to score to take a 2-1 advantage.
- Holding a 2-1 lead, WCU's Katelyn Rittenbaugh connected on an RBI single to extend the Rams' lead to 3-1.
- The Warriors entered the bottom of the 7th down 3-1. A leadoff throwing error by the WCU shortstop allowed Denva Shaw-Tait to reach base. Kate Donaghue drew a walk, as the tying run entered the basepaths. A single by Master juiced the bases with no outs, setting up Lipkins with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-2. The Golden Rams switched pitcher's but a sacrifice fly by Vicendese tied the contest at 3-3. Weirich came through with an RBI single for the walk-off victory.
How It Happened – Game 2
- The Golden Rams scored the first and its only run of game two in the top of the 3rd. Three consecutive singles loaded the bases with no outs. After a flyout, a fielder's choice allowed Hailey Melvin to cross the plate.
- The Warriors responded in its next at-bats. With two outs, Delaney Ridgell singled and Shaw-Tait walked to put a pair of runners on base. Smallwood entered the game as a pinch-hitter and delivered, smacking a two-RBI double to lift the Warriors to the lead.
- Davenport allowed just one hit after the fourth inning, as ESU added two insurance runs to its lead in the bottom of the 5th. A sacrifice fly by Weirich and a sacrifice bunt by Edelman extended the Warrior lead to 4-1.
- After a leadoff double and a pair of outs, Master connected on an RBI double for the final run of the game in the bottom of the 6th.
- Davenport retired the side in order in the top of the 7th for her 19th victory in the 5-1 win for ESU.
Up Next
- The Warriors return to action on Tuesday at Mansfield. Game times at Helen Lutes Field are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
