STROUDSBURG – For the first time in program history, the 25th-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball team are PSAC East regular season champions as the Warriors split a doubleheader against Kutztown (4-3 (8), 9-1) on Friday afternoon at Creekview Park.
After dropping the opener in eight innings, the Warriors responded with a 9-1 win in the regular season finale to wrap up the No. 1 seed in the PSAC East while finishing 38-10 overall and 26-6 in the conference. The Golden Bears concluded the season 17-33 overall and 10-22 in the PSAC East.
Making Program History: ESU captured the PSAC East regular season title for first time in program history as the Warriors most recently finished atop of the standings back in 1985 when they played in the North Division. ESU is approaching its single season win record of 41 (41-20) set in 2022 and the 26 PSAC East victories are the most in school history by eight as the Warriors went 18-10 back in 2016.
Home Sweet Home: ESU wrapped up the regular season with an incredible 21-3 record at Creekview Park's R. Clinton Hughes Jr. Field. The Warriors outscored the opposition 143-46 at home in 2024 and since 2019, ESU holds a home record of 93-32-2 when playing in Stroudsburg.
Batting Notables
- Redshirt sophomore Parker Frey finished the doubleheader 4-for-7, which included going 3-for-4 in the series finale, with two runs and one RBI, while redshirt sophomore Chaise Albus was 4-for-6 with two RBI and three runs scored
- Walker Zampella (3-for-7, one run) provided the offense in game two as redshirt sophomore was 2-for-3 with three RBI
- Junior Jack Rothenhausler went 3-for-7 with a double, two RBI and a run scored, while sophomore Shanley Wall was 2-for-6 with two walks and a pair of runs scored
- Cameron Hubbard (2-for-7) finished the twin bill with a pair of hits, one run and a stolen base while senior Jeremy Piatkiewicz (1-for-5) added two RBI
Pitching Notables
- Peyton Brannock (5-2) was excellent in the series finale as the freshman pitched 5.0 innings, yielding one run on five hits to go along with a career-high eight strikeouts
- Johansel Brito was nails out of the bullpen as the freshman field a clean final 2.0 innings in relief
- In the opener, freshman Gavin Sopko earned the no-decision after firing 4.0 innings, allowing two runs (zero earned) on six hits to go along with three strikeouts
- Senior Nick McAuliffe tossed 2.2 innings and punched out three in relief while Caden Parker (1-1) suffered the loss after surrendering one run (zero earned) on three hits across 1.1 innings of work
How it Happened – Kutztown 4, ESU 3 (8 Innings)
Kutztown raced out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as a trio of hits and a fielding error by the Warriors allowed for a pair of unearned runs to score. Ethan Martini singled home Michael Burns after the ball was misplayed in right field and ultimately came around to score on an RBI base hit from Jimmy Kerley.
ESU finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning as Wall crossed home plate to make the score 2-1 following a leadoff double. The sophomore advanced to third on a fielder's choice before scampering home on an RBI double off the bat of Frey.
The Golden Bears added an insurance run with two outs in the top of the seventh inning as Burns laced an RBI single to left center field to make the score 3-1.
ESU wouldn't go down without a fight in the home half of the seventh inning as the Warriors scratched across two runs on four hits and a Kutztown error to tie the game at 3-3. With a pair of runners in scoring position, Piatkiewicz collected an RBI on groundout to second base before Kelly evened it up with an RBI single.
Kutztown ultimately won the opener in the top of the eighth inning as Cole Regn was credited with the game-winning RBI on an infield single which made the score 4-3. Jimmy Kerley, who scored the run, was plunked to lead off the inning, advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt and moved to third on a base hit from Antonio Rossillo.
How it Happened – ESU 9, Kutztown 1
With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, ESU grabbed a 1-0 lead as Rothenhausler singled home Hubbard, who reached on a fielder's choice before moving into scoring position with a stolen base.
The Golden Bears tied it up in the top of the third inning as three consecutive singles, which included an RBI base hit from Ethan Martini, evened the score at 1-1.
ESU broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning with four runs on four hits to regain a 5-1 lead over Kutztown. With no outs and the bases loaded, Albus brought home a pair with a base hit before Zampella followed with an RBI single to make the score 4-1. After a Golden Bears' throwing error reloaded the bases, Kelly drove in another run with a sacrifice fly.
The offensive onslaught continued for ESU in the home half of the fifth inning as the Warriors added three runs on a pair of hits to increase their edge to 8-1. Zampella collected a pair of RBI following a single with the bases loaded and Piatkiewicz brought in another with a sacrifice fly.
The Warriors added one last run in the bottom of the sixth inning as Rothenhausler brought home Wall on sacrifice fly to make the final score 9-1.
Up Next
ESU turns its attention to the PSAC Tournament, which gets underway on Wednesday at 1 p.m. against PSAC West fourth-seeded Slippery Rock at Jack Critchfield Park on the campus of Slippery Rock University
