STROUDSBURG – After dropping the first game of today's doubleheader, sophomore
Ryan Dewees twirled a complete-game shutout in the night cap to lift the 10th-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball team to a split with West Chester on Friday afternoon at Creekview Park.
The Warriors (35-7, 23-3 PSAC East) moved closer to clinching the Eastern Division regular-season title with an 8-0 victory in game two, while the Golden Rams (33-7, 19-7 PSAC East) officially clinched a spot in the upcoming PSAC postseason tournament next month. ESU maintains a two-game lead over Millersville (35-9, 21-5) for the top spot with six PSAC East games remaining for both squads.
Despite suffering his first loss of the season in the opener,
Brent Francisco (9-1) set the ESU career record for innings pitched as the redshirt senior fired 6.2 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits to go along with five strikeouts. With his second out in the top of the third inning, Francisco surpassed former teammate
Chase Nowak's mark of 267.1 and sits at 271.2 innings pitched and counting.
Dewees held the PSAC's top offensive team in check in game two as the Lincoln University, Pa. native tossed a three-hit shutout, the first of his career, to improve to 6-0 on the year. He punched out four Golden Rams, extended his scoreless innings streak to 13.0 and lowered his ERA to 2.80 on the season.
Batting Notables
- In the series opener, senior Mike Kelly and junior Jack Rothenhausler both went 1-for-3 with an RBI while Shanley Wall, Tim Haverstick (2B), Chaise Albus and Jeremy Piatkiewicz each had a hit
- Wall returned in game two with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate that included his third home run of the season, two RBI and two runs scored
- Out of the ninth spot in the lineup, Piatkiewicz went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored while Albus was 1-for-3 with 2 RBI and one run
- Rothenhausler and Zampella each had an RBI and run scored while Cameron Hubbard went 1-for-3 with two stolen bases and a run
Pitching Notables
- West Chester's Julian Costa earned the game one victory in a pitcher's duel as he allowed two runs on six hits and struck out six in 6.0 innings of work
- Johansel Brito was the only other ESU pitcher to appear on the mound this afternoon as the freshman recorded an out
How it Happened – WCU 4, ESU 2
West Chester jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as a trio of hits led to a pair of runs for the Golden Rams. Anthony Boccio brought in the game's first run on a sacrifice fly and after a hit by pitch put two runners on, Sean Szestowicki collected an RBI on a single through the left side.
The Warriors finally broke in the bottom of the sixth inning as three hits led to one run which cut West Chester's edge to 2-1. Kelly and Wall led off the frame with back-to-back base hits before Rothenhausler delivered an RBI single to center field for ESU's first run.
In the top of the seventh inning, WCU tacked on a pair of insurance runs to stretch their lead back to 4-1 as both Joe Kaleck and John DeMucci delivered RBI singles up the middle.
ESU wouldn't go down with a fight in their final at-bats as the Warriors brought the game-tying run to the plate before West Chester recorded the last out to make the final score 4-2. With one out and runners on the corners, Kelly lofted a sacrifice fly to right field to get ESU with two.
How it Happened – ESU 8, WCU 0
ESU bounced back to open game two as the Warriors scored three runs on a trio of hits in the bottom of the first inning to grab a 3-0 lead. Rothenhausler singled home ESU's first run and after a walk with two outs loaded the bases, Albus produced a two-run base hit to center field.
The Warriors put the game out of reach in the bottom of the sixth inning as ESU plated five runs on three hits to make the final score 8-0 in their favor. Zampella got the scoring started with an RBI single, Piatkiewicz followed with a two-run base hit up the middle and Wall capped off the frame with a three-run home run to right field.
Up Next
ESU and West Chester conclude the PSAC East series tomorrow with a twin bill beginning at 1 p.m. from Serpico Stadium
