STROUDSBURG – The 13th-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball team swept Shippensburg in Monday's doubleheader at Creekview Park, earning a 7-5 win in Game 1 and a 5-1 victory in the finale to take the season series.
The Warriors improved to 27-7 overall and 13-3 in conference play, moving into a tie with Millersville (27-6, 13-3 PSAC East) for first place in the PSAC East.
In the series finale,
Peyton Brannock twired a gem as the sophomore fired 6.1 innings, allowing one run on six hits and striking out six Raiders (20-16, 7-9 PSAC East).
Among recent national rankings, ESU was ranked No. 3 by Perfect Game (
April 9), No. 13 by D2 Baseball (
April 14), No. 15 by the American Baseball Coaches Association (
April 8) and No. 16 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (
April 9).
Batting Notables
- Chaise Albus supplied the offense in today's opener as the redshirt sophomore went 4-for-4 with a double, a career-high six RBIs and two stolen bases
- Redshirt senior Dennis Pierce finished 2-for-3 with a walk, one RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases
- Graduate student Francisco Taveras and junior Shanley Wall combined for four walks and three runs scored, while redshirt junior Walker Zampella (one stolen base) and junior Connor Reilly (one run) each went 1-for-3
- Redshirt junior Parker Frey went 1-for-2 with two RBIs in the series finale, while Wall was 1-for-2 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored.
- Albus finished the day with seven RBIs on six hits (6-for-7), going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run in the nightcap. Zampella collected an RBI, while senior Jack Rothenhausler, Pierce (one run) and Tavera (one run) each went 1-for-3.
Pitching Notables
- In game one, sophomore Johansel Brito (1-1) earned the victory in relief, allowing two runs on five hits over 4.1 innings pitched and striking out four
- Senior Caden Parker recorded the game's final five outs, including three strikeouts, to notch his PSAC-leading sixth save of the season
- Brannock improved to 4-1 on the season after logging the longest start of his career. Redshirt freshman Ryan Cavanaugh recorded the game's final two outs.
How it Happened (Game 1) – ESU 7, Shippensburg 5
With one out in the top of the first inning, Shippensburg grabbed a 2-0 lead as Gio Calamia and AJ Wenrich belted back-to-back solo home runs.
ESU tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run single from Albus, scoring Pierce and Wall, who had drawn consecutive walks.
The Raiders regained a 3-2 advantage in the top of the second inning as Bryce Herb collected an RBI on a groundout with a pair of runners in scoring position.
The back-and-forth continued in the home half of the second inning as the Warriors scored three runs on three hits to grab a 5-3 lead. Pierce tied the game again with an RBI single that scored Riley before Albus knocked in two more runs with a two-out double.
Albus continued his red-hot streak at the plate with his fifth and sixth RBIs of the afternoon, as the redshirt sophomore delivered a two-out, two-run single to put ESU in front 7-3.
Shippensburg chipped way at its deficit in the top of the sixth inning, scoring one run on three hits to make it 7-4 in favor of ESU. With runners on second and third, Mason Morris produced an RBI single to pull the Raiders within three runs.
How it Happened (Game 2) – ESU 5, Shippensburg 1
ESU broke the scoring opening in the bottom of the third inning, using four hits and a Shippensburg error to take a 3-0 lead. With one out, the Warriors recorded four consecutive singles, including RBI base hits from Wall and Albus to give ESU a 2-0 edge. After a fielding miscue reloaded the bases, Frey drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Warriors stretched the lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning as Frey and Zampella delivered consecutive two-out RBI singles.
Up Next
PSAC East play continues for ESU on Friday as the Warriors welcome Shepherd to Creekview Park to begin a four-game series with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
