SLIPPERY ROCK – The 18th-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball team battled through a three-hour rain delay and back from a 12-4 deficit, but the Warriors' comeback bid ultimately came up short as West Chester held on for a 12-11 victory in the PSAC Championship on Saturday at Jack Critchfield Park.
After staving off elimination last night, ESU (41-12) scored seven runs over the final two innings to pull within one at 12-11, until the final three batters were retired as the Warriors finished as the runner-up. The turning point in the game came in the bottom of the fourth inning when the Golden Rams scored eight two-out runs before and after the stoppage to pull ahead 9-2.
West Chester (43-7) claimed their sixth PSAC Championship in program history and first since 2016 as the Golden Rams earned the automatic bid in the Atlantic Region for next week's NCAA Division II Tournament.
ESU is 20-21 all-time in the PSAC Tournament dating back to 1971 and have now captured four runner-up finishes at the conference tournament (1985, 2015, 2022, 2024).
The Warriors – who ranked third in the NCAA Atlantic Region rankings on Wednesday – will find out their NCAA Tournament fate during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday at 10:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
Batting Notables
- Redshirt sophomore Walker Zampella powered ESU offensively as he finished 2-for-4 with his third home run of the season, three RBI and two runs scored
- All-PSAC East First Team outfielder Shanley Wall filled up the stat sheet as the sophomore went 2-for-3 with a walk, his fourth home run of the year, four runs and one RBI
- Jack Rothenhausler (2-4) also collected a pair of hits as the All-PSAC East First Team third baseman totaled one walk, RBI and run scored
- Cameron Hubbard (1-4) gave ESU a brief lead following his third home run of the season as the junior finished with two RBI and two runs scored
- Seniors Tim Haverstick and Jeremy Piatkiewicz combined for three RBI and two hits while redshirt sophomore Parker Frey added a base knock
Pitching Notables
- Gavin Sopko (4-2) suffered the loss in his 10th start of the season as the freshman allowed five runs on eight hits across 3.2 innings pitched. The Cresco, Pa. native returned to the bump on two-days rest after throwing 49 pitches against Slippery Rock on Wednesday.
- A trio of freshman pitched out of the bullpen including Johansel Brito, Jake Albert and Ben Junker, who made his ESU debut, while junior Greg Wiley fired 0.2 innings in relief
- Seniors Vincent Cenname (2.2 innings) and Jack Nielsen (0.1 innings) combined for three innings pitched while junior Caden Parker recorded an out on one pitch
- West Chester's David Ferguson (5-0) was credited with the win after coming on in relief following the rain delay
How it Happened – WCU 12, ESU 11
West Chester jumped on ESU in the bottom of the first inning as Joe Kaleck produced an RBI to plate Evan Profy, who led off with a walk before moving into scoring position on a stolen base.
The Warriors finally broke through in the top of the fourth inning as Wall worked a one-out walk before Hubbard followed with a two-run home run to left-center field to put ESU ahead 2-1.
West Chester responded in the home half of the inning as the Golden Rams scored eight two-out runs on seven singles to regain a 9-2 edge. Six different Golden Rams were credited with at least one RBI in the frame.
ESU got one run back in the top of the sixth inning to make the score 9-3 as Rothenhausler delivered a two-out RBI double to plate Wall, who singled and stole second to move into scoring position.
The Warriors continued to chip away in the top half of the seventh inning as Zampella kept the frame alive with a single before coming around to score on an RBI double from Piatkiewicz.
West Chester answered right back in the bottom of the seventh inning with three runs on four hits to regain a 12-4 advantage.
Despite only recording two hits in the top of the eighth inning, ESU mounted a comeback by scoring six runs to draw within two at 12-10. Wall was plunked to start the frame and ultimately came around to score on a series of wild pitches. Then with runners in scoring position, Haverstick produced a two-run double to make the score 12-7. After a walk to Albus, Zampella crushed the second pitch of his at-bat over the left field fence to get the Warriors within striking distance.
ESU carried over momentum into their final at-bats as Wall led off the ninth inning with a solo home run down the right field line to cut West Chester's lead to 12-11. However, the next three Warriors were retired in order to end the game.
Up Next
The Warriors turn their attention to the NCAA Division II Baseball Selection Show on Sunday, May 12 at 10:30 p.m. ET streamed live on NCAA.com. Regional competition will begin May 16 and championship bracket games will take place June 1-8 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.
