STROUDSBURG – The 13th-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball team split a PSAC East doubleheader with Shepherd on Friday afternoon at Creekview Park. The Rams took the series opener, 11-2, before the Warriors responded with a 14-2 win in Game 2.
The Warriors moved to 29-8 overall and 14-4 in the PSAC East, while the Rams are now 19-20 on the season and 7-11 in conference play.
Batting Notables
- Senior Jack Rothenhausler (one run) and redshirt junior Parker Frey drove in ESU's two runs in the series opener, as they both went 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI
- Junior Shaney Wall, redshirt sophomore Chaise Albus and redshirt junior Walker Zampella each went 1-for-3
- Freshman Easton Albert paced the Warriors' offensive outburst in the night cap, going 4-for-4 with a double, four RBIs and two runs scored
- Albus finished 3-for-4 with a double, his second home run of the season, three RBI and two runs. Redshirt senior Dennis Pierce was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run.
- Zampella went 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI and two runs, while Frey was 1-for-2 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored
- Freshman Jackson Rutecki (1-for-1) delivered a two-run home run, his second of the season, and graduate student Francisco Taveras finished 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored
Pitching Notables
- In the series opener, junior Ryan Dewees (6-1) suffered his first loss of the season in 10 starts, allowing seven runs on eight hits in 1.2 innings pitched
- Sophomore Johansel Brito, freshman Cole Dymek, sophomore Jack Bacolo, freshman Caden Leonard and redshirt sophomore Justin Johnson pitched in relief for the Warriors
- Jake Albert (3-1) earned the win in Game 2, as the sophomore tossed 4.2 innings in relief, allowing one run on one hit while striking out a career-high eight
- In his sixth start of the season, freshman Ethan Woods surrendered one run on three hits over 2.1 innings, striking out four Rams
How it Happened (Game 1) – Shepherd 11, ESU 2
Shepherd jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Aidan Greaney delivered a two-out, two-run home run to center field.
The Rams stretched the advantage to 7-0 in the top of the second inning, plating five runs on five hits. Bodie Pullen got the scoring started with a three-run home run to center field, while Greaney and Ethan Burgreen followed with RBI hits.
Shepherd continued to hit the long ball in the top of the third inning as Wyatt Miles delivered a two-run home run to right field, pushing the lead to 9-0.
The Rams hit their fourth home run of the series opener in the top of the fifth inning, as Ethan Jones extended Shepherd's lead to 11-0 with a two-run blast to right-center field.
ESU broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Rothenhausler recorded an RBI double down the left-field line before coming around to score on base hit from Frey, cutting the deficit to 11-2.
How it Happened (Game 2) – ESU 14, Shepherd 2
Shepherd grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Miles led off with a single, before stealing second, advancing to third on a throwing error and ultimately scoring on a wild pitch.
ESU answered in the bottom of the first inning, plating three runs on four hits to jump ahead 3-1. With runners on the corners, Rothenhausler delivered a sacrifice fly to score Wall and tie the game at 1-1. After Albus stole second to move into scoring position, Frey followed with an RBI single to left field. Albert capped the inning with a run-scoring base hit to give the Warriors a two-run lead.
ESU grabbed a 4-1 advantage with two outs in the bottom of the third inning, as Albert produced an RBI single to left field.
The Warriors continued to produce two-out runs in the fourth inning, when Albus launched a three-run home to right field to put ESU ahead 7-1.
In the fifth inning, ESU extended the lead to 10-1 on two hits and a Shepherd error. Albert doubled home a pair and Pierce followed with an infield single with two outs to drive in another run.
The offensive surge continued in the sixth inning, as the Warriors plated four runs in three hits to make the final score 14-2.
Adrian Aleman and Zampella each drove in a run with a sacrifice fly before Rutecki capped the scoring with a two-run home run to right field.
Up Next
The Warriors and Rams conclude the PSAC East series tomorrow with a twin bill beginning at 1 p.m. at Fairfax Field
