ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The No. 16 East Stroudsburg University softball team split its season opener against Eckerd, winning game one 4-2 at Turley Athletic Complex on Wednesday afternoon.
The Warriors (1-1) were on point in game one, as the Tritons (1-1) only scored in one inning. Game two featured more offense from both teams, but Eckerd ultimately won to split the doubleheader.
Pitching Notables
Sarah Davenport (W, 1-0), the reigning PSAC East Pitcher of the Year, threw a complete game in the first contest, allowing zero earned runs, four hits, and striking out 11 batters to earn her first win of the season.
Batting Notables
Maryland Eastern Shore transfer
Tatum Kresley made an immediate impact, going 5 for 7 at the plate with a double and three runs scored. She scored the first run for ESU in game one.
Senior
Abigail Weirich recorded two hits in each game and scored a run in game two.
Freshman
Kinsley Proepper hit an RBI double in the fourth inning of game one and reached base safely in both games.
Delaney Ridgell drove in runs in both games, including an RBI double in ESU's four-run third inning in game two.
Katie Master hit a three-run home run in game two, bringing the Warriors within two runs in the third inning.
How It Happened – Game 1
ESU opened its season with a two-run first inning. Kresley doubled, and freshman
Tulana Mingin drove her in with a single to left center. Mingin stole two bases, and her steal of third forced an error by the catcher, allowing her to score the second run.
In the fourth, Proepper drove in Ridgell with an RBI double to right center, extending the lead to 3-0.
Eckerd answered with two runs in the fifth, but Davenport shut down the Tritons' threat, maintaining the Warriors' lead.
Ridgell added an insurance run in the sixth, driving in Kresley with a single. Davenport struck out the final two batters to secure the win.
How It Happened – Game 2
The second game favored the Tritons, who jumped out to a 7-1 lead after two innings.
The Warriors responded with a four-run third inning. Ridgell doubled in Kresley, Weirich singled to move Ridgell to third, and Master hit a three-run home run to center field, cutting the deficit to 7-5.
However, Eckerd answered with a seven-run inning in the fourth, which proved to be enough to win the game.
Up Next
The Warriors (1-1) continue their Florida trip with a Friday night matchup against RV Nova Southeastern in Fort Lauderdale. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m., followed by the second game at 7 p.m.
