SLIPPERY ROCK – Despite trailing 5-0 after the top of the first inning, the 18th-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball team rallied to defeat Slippery Rock, 16-10, in the opening round of the PSAC Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Jack Critchfield Park.
The Rock (28-18) led ESU (39-10) at 5-0, 6-3 and 7-6 before the Warriors scored 10 runs over the final four innings, which included a five spot in the bottom of the sixth, to advance to the double-elimination portion of the bracket for the first time since 2022.
The 16 runs scored by the Warriors were the second most in a conference tournament game in program history as ESU scratched across 18 runs against Mercyhurst in 2015.
ESU improved to 18-19 all-time in the PSAC Tournament dating back to 1971 and have now defeated the Rock in three of the last four meetings in the conference playoffs.
The Warriors are moving on to play PSAC West second-seeded IUP tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Batting Notables
- Sophomore Shanley Wall was on fire at the dish as the All-PSAC East First Team outfielder finished 4-for-5 with a triple, four RBI and four runs
- Parker Frey also supplied the offense for ESU as the redshirt sophomore went 2-for-4 with a double, four RBI and a run scored
- Redshirt sophomore Chaise Albus had himself a day as the Bethlehem native was 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs after belting a pair of solo home runs, his fourth and fifth of the season
- All-PSAC East Second Team selection Cameron Hubbard finished 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI
- Seniors Mike Kelly (one RBI) and Jeremy Piatkiewicz each went 2-for-4 with a triple while combining for five runs scored
- Redshirt senior Tim Haverstick and All-PSAC East First Teamer Jack Rothenhasler both collected a hit and RBI
Pitching Notables
- Gavin Sopko (4-1) was brilliant in relief for the Warriors as the freshman fired 4.0 scoreless innings to earn his fourth victory of the season
- Neither the PSAC East nor West Pitcher of the Year had their best stuff today as redshirt senior Brent Francisco was tagged for five runs (zero earned) on four hits across 1.0 innings pitched, while Slippery Rock's Gage Gillott surrendered seven runs on nine hits in 4.1 innings of work
- Senior Nick McAuliffe (2.0 innings), freshmen Carson Renner (1.0 innings) Ryan Iberer (0.1 innings) and Jake Albert (0.2 innings) appeared out of the bullpen for ESU
How it Happened – ESU 16, Slippery Rock 10
Slippery Rock jumped on ESU in the top of the first inning as the Rock scored fine unearned runs on four hits to take a 5-0 lead. Joey Purcell came around to score the game's first run on a Warriors' fielding error and Brandon Butler scampered home on a fielder's choice to make the score 2-0. Cam Panyko Morris, Noah Ross and Robby Barrientos each followed with RBI base hits to put the Rock up by five runs.
ESU battled right back in the bottom of the first inning as the Warriors scratched across three runs on four hits to cut the deficit to 5-3. Kelly led off with a triple and raced home on a wild pitch to score ESU's first run. After back-to-back singles from Wall and Rothenhausler and a walk to Rothenhausler, Frey produced a two-run single to right field to draw the Warriors within two runs.
With two outs in the top of the second inning, Slippery Rock increased their lead to 6-3 as Purcell scored from second on a wild pitch in an at-bat that featured Eddie Morris striking out but reaching first base.
The Warriors got the run right back in the home half of the inning as Piatkiewicz tripled to left centerfield with one out before coming around to score on an RBI groundout from Kelly.
ESU put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the third inning as pair of hits and a walk led to two runs to tie the score at 6-6. Frey kept the frame alive with a free pass and raced home on an RBI double off the bat of Haverstick, before he came around to score following an RBI single by Albus.
Slippery Rock regained a one-run lead at 7-6 in the top of the fourth inning as Michael Kitko beat out a potential double play ball to score Braden Olden, who reached with a leadoff walk.
The back and forth continued in the bottom half of the fifth inning as Rothenhausler singled home Wall with one out to knot the score once again at 7-7.
ESU exploded offensively in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Warriors scored five runs on a handful of hits to grab a 12-7 lead over Slippery Rock. Albus got the scoring started with a leadoff solo home run to right field to put the Warriors ahead 8-7, before Wall drove in a pair on a single up the middle. Then with two outs, Frey cleared the bases on a two-run double to right center to put ESU in front by five runs.
The offensive onslaught continued for ESU in the home half of the seventh inning as the Warriors scored three two-out runs to stretch their edge to 15-7. Wall collected his third and fourth RBIs of the game with a two-run triple and after a pitching change, Hubbard laced an RBI single through the left side to increase ESU's edge to eight runs.
The Warriors added an insurance run with two outs in their final at-bats as Albus lifted his second solo home run of the game to center field to put ESU ahead 16-7.
Slippery Rock wouldn't go down without swinging the bat in the bottom of the ninth inning as Noah Ross delivered a three-run double with two outs to make the final score 16-10 in favor of ESU.
Up Next
ESU enters the double-elimination portion of the bracket tomorrow with a 10 a.m. game against PSAC West second-seeded IUP
