STROUDSBURG – The 15th-ranked Stroudsburg University baseball team was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament and saw its historic season come to end with a pair of losses to Seton Hill, 4-3 & 8-3, in the NCAA Atlantic Regional #2 on Sunday at Creekview Park.
The Warriors (43-14) wrapped up the campaign with a single-season record of 43 wins, while the Griffins (40-15) advanced to next week's NCAA Atlantic Super Regional to face IUP.
In the winner-take-all game, ESU found themselves leading 3-2 in the top of the seventh inning until Seton Hill plated six runs to ultimately defeat ESU.
Batting Notables
Pitching Notables
- Freshman Gavin Sopko (4-3) suffered the loss In today's opener after allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits to go along with four strikeouts
- Freshman Johansel Brito and senior Vincent Cenname combined for 4.0 scoreless innings in relief
- Payton Brannock was solid in the winner-take-all game as the freshman tossed 5.0 innings, yielding two runs on six hits while punching out four Griffins to earn the no-decision
- Fellow classmate Carson Renner (1-1) was handed the loss after surrendering three unearned runs in 1.0 innings pitched
- Junior Caden Parker (1.1 innings), freshman Ben Junker (1.0 innings) and junior Greg Wiley (0.2 innings) made an appearance out of the bullpen
Thank You Seniors: ESU's senior class of
Mike Kelly,
Jeremy Piatkiewicz,
Cameron Hubbard,
Tim Haverstick,
Nick McAuliffe,
Vincent Cenname,
Brent Francisco and
Jack Nielsen completed their collegiate careers. The group helped lead the Warriors to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances (2022-24), the first PSAC East Regular season title in school history, a pair of single-season wins records (41 – 2022, 43 – 2024) and a program-record 25-game win streak this season.
Francisco departs after rewriting a number of pitching records as the NCBWA Atlantic Region and PSAC East Pitcher of the Year holds career marks for innings pitched (285.1), strikeouts (316), wins (29) and games started (53) as well as single-season records for punchouts (116 – 2022), innings pitched (89.1 – 2022), games started (16 – 2022) and wins (12 – 2024).
Haverstick (193) and Piatkiewicz (186) both conclude their careers in the top-10 for games played as they rank fourth and ninth respectively all-time. A staple behind the plate, Haverstick holds the career-record for putouts with 1305, while Piatkiewicz's 485 assists from the shortstop position rank as the second-most all-time.
Kelly, who played two seasons with ESU after transferring from Kutztown, earned All-PSAC East First Team honors in 2023 and finished his career with the best stolen base percentage in program history at 93.2 after going 55-for-59 on the base paths.
How it Happened – Seton Hill 4, ESU 3 (Game One)
Seton Hill raced out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as three hits led to a pair of runs for the Griffins. Jack Oberdorf doubled home Owen Henne and Matt Frazetta collected an RBI with a sacrifice fly to right field.
ESU answered in the top of the second inning with thee runs on two hits to grab a 3-2 advantage as Piatkiewicz belted a two-out three-run home run on the first pitch of his at-bat. The senior brought home Albus and Zampella, who reached on a fielder's choice and a walk.
The Griffins took advantage of an ESU error in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at 3-3 as Noah Sweeney laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Max Mandler, who advanced to third after a throwing miscue on a double play attempt by the Warriors.
Seton Hill regained a one-run lead at 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning as Owen Mandler and Frazetta led off with back-to-back singles before moving into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Elijah Snider followed with an RBI groundout to put the Griffins back in front.
How it Happened – Seton Hill 8, ESU 3 (Game Two)
ESU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning as the Warriors loaded the bases with a single and pair of hit by pitches before Frey collected an RBI on a groundout.
The Griffins answered in the top of the second inning as Snider delivered a one-out solo home run to center field to tie the score at 1-1.
ESU regained a 2-1 lead in the home half of the second inning as Zampella doubled with one out before coming around to score on an RBI single through the left side off the bat of Piatkiewicz.
The back and forth continued in the top of the fourth inning when Seton Hill evened it at 2-2 as Max Mandler produced a two-out RBI single up the middle to plate Snider, who kept the frame alive with a walk before moving into scoring position on a stolen base.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, ESU took advantage of a Seton Hill fielding error as booted throw on a double play attempt put runners at on the corners for Kelly, who reached on a fielder's choice to drive Zampella and give the Warriors a 3-2 advantage.
Seton Hill responded with a crocked number in the top of the seventh inning as the Griffins used three hits, a walk and an ESU error to push across six runs, jumping back ahead 8-3. Henne worked a bases loaded walk to tie the game, Owen Mandler followed with a two-run double, and Snider capped off the frame with a three-run home run to left field.
