STROUDSBURG – The 12th-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball team saw its historic 25-game win streak come to an end as Pace outlasted the Warriors, 9-7, in a 15-inning thriller on Tuesday afternoon at Creekview Park.
Today's loss marked the first for ESU (28-4) in 51 days as the Warriors had won 25 straight games dating back to February 18 at Chowan.
During that stretch, ESU outscored their opponents 193-64, pitched to a 2.90 ERA across 183.0 innings and eclipsed the previous program record win streak by 10 games (15 – 2022).
The Setters, who improved to 19-8 on the season following their fifth consecutive win, scored nine runs on a season-high 18 hits and nine walks.
Batting Notables
- Chaise Albus paced the Warriors offensively as the redshirt freshman went 3-for-5 with his first career home run, a double, two walks, two RBI and a run scored
- Fellow classmate Walker Zampella was 2-for-5 with two walks and a run scored
- Redshirt sophomore Parker Frey totaled 3 RBI following his fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the third inning
- Junior Jack Rothenhausler finished 1-for-5 with two walks, two RBI and a pair of runs scored
- Out of the leadoff spot, Mike Kelly had two hits, including a double, while Shanley Wall, Cameron Hubbard and Tim Haverstick each had a base hit
Pitching Notables
- The Warriors used 10 pitchers in today's marathon which included J.J. Hood (1.0 innings), who toed the rubber for his third career start, Jack Nielsen (1.0 innings), Greg Wiley (1.0 innings), Johansel Brito (2.0 innings), Jaden Newton (1.2 innings), Caden Parker (1.1 innings), Jake Albert (3.0 innings), Ryan Iberer (1.0 innings), Vincent Cenname (1.2 innings) and Quinn Warmkessel (0.1 innings)
- Despite working around a bases loaded jam with no outs in the top of the 14th inning, Cenname (0-1) was ultimately tagged with the loss after surrendering two runs on four hits
How it Happened – Pace 9, ESU 7
In the top of the first inning Pace used two hits, a pair of walks and a hit by pitch to scratch across two runs. With the bases loaded, Matthew Franco delivered a sacrifice fly to score the game's first run and after another free pass reloaded the bases, Luke Rivera produced an RBI infield single to give the Setters a 2-0 lead.
The Warriors cut their deficit in half in the bottom of the second inning as Albus delivered a two-out RBI double to right field to make the score 2-1. Rothenhausler came around to cross home plate following a single to lead off the frame.
ESU exploded offensively in the bottom of the third inning as the Warriors pushed across four runs on three hits to jump ahead 5-2. With the bases loaded and one out, Rothenhausler beat out a double play ball to tie it at 2-2 and keep the frame alive for Parker, who delivered a bases clearing three-run home run to right field.
Pace answered right back in their next at-bats as the Setters plated three runs on three hits which included RBI knocks from Dominic Rivera, Matthew Rinaldi and Anthony Labita to even the score at 5-5.
In the bottom half of the fourth inning, ESU regained a one-run lead at 6-5 when Rothenhausler worked a bases loaded walk to drive in Zampella, who singled to lead off the frame.
The back and forth continued in the top half of the sixth inning as Pace took advantage of a leadoff double to knot the score at 6-6. A single moved Rivera over to third before he scampered home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Brayden Sweppeheiser.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Albus belted a 2-2 pitch over the right field fence to put the Warriors ahead 7-6.
Pace put together a two-out rally in the top of the eighth inning to tie the game at 7-7 as Mason Baronian delivered an RBI single to left field with runners on the corners.
As both offenses struggled in extra innings, the Setters were finally able to break through in the top of the 15th frame with two runs on three hits to regain a 9-7 edge. Luke Rivera was credited with the game-winning RBI on a single into center field while Dylan Koch tacked on an insurance run using a base hit through the left side.
Up Next
ESU sets their sights on a marquee four-game series with Millersville, who is ranked top-10 nationally by numerous polls, set to get underway on Friday with a twin bill at Cooper Park
