STROUDSBURG – A historic run continued for the 12th-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball team on Friday as the Warriors swept Shippensburg in a PSAC East doubleheader at Creekview Park to extend their program-record win streak to 23 games as well as set a new school record for consecutive conference victories with 14.
The Warriors, who have not dropped a game since February 18, pushed their record to 26-3 overall, 14-0 in the PSAC East and a perfect 15-0 at Creekview Park as the Raiders slipped to 16-13 on the season and 10-8 in the league following their fourth consecutive loss.
Brent Francisco pitched ESU to a 3-0 win in the series opener as the redshirt junior twirled a one-hit complete game shutout while striking out five to extend his scoreless innings streak to 12. Francisco, who surrendered a lone infield hit in the top of the sixth inning, improved to 7-0 in eight starts and dropped his ERA to 1.88 on the season.
In the night cap, ESU found themselves trailing 2-0 before scoring five unanswered runs across the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to pull out the 5-2 come-from-behind victory. Shippensburg threatened in the top of the sixth inning, but junior
Caden Parker recorded the final five outs, including four by strikeout, to earn his seventh save of the year.
Batting Notables
- Senior Jeremy Piatkiewicz reached base every at-bat as the senior went 2-for-2 with a double, two hit by pitches, two runs and a stolen base
- Junior Cameron Hubbard finished the day 2-for-4 with a walk, one RBI, one run and two stolen bases
- Reigning PSAC East Co-Athlete of the Week Jack Rothenhausler supplied the offense in the opener as the junior went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Rothenhausler extended his hit streak to 14 games but went 0-for-3 with an RBI in the second game of the twin bill.
- Out of the one and two spots in the lineup, senior Mike Kelly and sophomore Shanley Wall combined for two hits, two walks, thee runs and two RBI
- Making the start in game two, redshirt freshman Chaise Albus was 1-for-3 with an RBI, run scored and stolen base while redshirt senior Tim Haverstick finished 1-for-3 with an RBI
Pitching Notables
- Francisco registered the 25th victory of his career and is now two wins away from tying the school record of 27 held by former teammate Chase Nowak. The Burlington Township, N.J. native continued his pursuit of the all-time strikeouts record as Francisco's 293 career punchouts trail Nowak (302) by 10 for the program high.
- Freshman Johansel Brito (3-1) earned his third victory of the season as the Hazeton native fired 1.0 innings in relief
- Junior Greg Wiley tossed 1.1 innings and struck out a pair while freshman Carson Renner (0.1 innings) recorded an out
- Parker moved into a tie for second all-time in school history with his seventh save in as many chances and trails Tyler Eckman (9 – 2014) by three for the single-season record
- Returning to the mound for the first time since March 24, Ryan Dewees allowed two runs on four hits in game two across 2.2 innings pitched
How it Happened – ESU 3, Shippensburg 0 (Game One)
First inning offense continued for ESU in the bottom half of the frame as the Warriors used two hits and a pair of hit by pitches to take a 2-0 lead. With no outs and the bases loaded, Rothenhausler delivered a two-run single through the left side to put ESU ahead.
ESU took advantage of a leadoff single in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Warriors scratched across another run to push their edge to 3-0. Piatkiewicz roped a base hit to center field, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout before coming around to score on a sacrifice fly from Wall.
How it Happened – ESU 5, Shippensburg 2 (Game Two)
Shippensburg broke through in the top of the third inning as the Raiders used three two-out hits to manufacture a pair of runs. Carter Hinds drove in the game's first run on a double to left center field and Gio Calamia followed with an RBI single through the left side.
ESU finally answered in the bottom of the fourth inning as the Warriors pushed across two runs on three hits to tie the score at 2-2. With one out and runners on the corners, Haverstick poked an RBI single into left field to get the Warriors on the board. Then with runners in scoring position, Albus lofted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Frey, evening the game at 2-2.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, ESU took their first lead of the game at 4-2 as the Warriors scratched across two runs using only one hit. Piatkiewicz was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and moved over to second on a bunt from Kelly, before ultimately giving coming around to score on a single from Hubbard. Rothenhausler gave the Warriors a two-run cushion as the junior beat out a double play ball to plate Wall.
ESU added an insurance run with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to make the final score 5-2 as Kelly singled home Albus, who delivered a one-out base hit before moving into scoring position with a stolen base.
Up Next
ESU and Shippensburg continue the PSAC East series tomorrow with another twin bill beginning at 1 p.m. from Fairchild Field
