KUTZTOWN – The 17th-ranked East Stroudsburg University baseball team swept a doubleheader against Kutztown on Friday at North Campus Baseball Field to clinch a berth in the 2025 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament.
The Warriors (33-9, 17-5 PSAC East) defeated the Golden Bears (13-28, 6-16 PSAC East) 6-2 in the series opener and 4-0 in the night cap to qualify for the PSAC Tournament for fourth straight year and 11th time under head coach
John Kochmansky.
Batting Notables
- In the series opener, redshirt senior Dennis Pierce went 4-for-4 a home run, a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored
- Senior Jack Rothenhausler finished 2-for-4 with his eighth home run of the season, a double, four RBIs and one run scored
- Redshirt junior Parker Frey was 2-for-4, while juniors Shanley Wall (one run, one walk) and Connor Reilly (one walk) each went 1-for-3. Redshirt Chaise Albus finished 1-for-4 with a run scored.
- In Game 2, Pierce went 2-for-3 with his second home run of the afternoon and 14th of the season, a walk, one RBI and one run scored
- Rothenhausler was 2-for-3 with a double, Frey went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and one run scored and Wall finished 1-for-4
- Redshirt junior Walker Zampella was 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, one RBI and two runs scored
Pitching Notables
- Junior Ryan Dewees (7-1) earned the win in the series opener, allowing two runs on five hits with one strikeout over 6.0 innings pitched
- Freshman Greyson Norris recorded two outs in the seventh inning before senior Caden Parker secured the final out of the game
- Sophomore Peyton Brannock (6-1) tossed 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out five to earn the victory in Game 2
- Sophomore Johansel Brito preserved the Warriors' fifth shutout of the season, pitching 2.0 innings in relief and striking out two
How it Happened (Game One) – ESU 6, Kutztown 2
ESU jumped on Kutztown in the top of the first inning, scoring three runs on three hits to take a 3-0 lead. Pierce singled to lead off the game and Wall followed with a walk, setting the table for Rothenhausler, who delivered a three-run home run to left field.
The Warriors stretched the lead to 5-0 in the top of the second, as Pierce led off the inning with a solo home run to left field. Rothenhausler followed with an RBI double to score Albus, who tripled with one out.
With two outs in the top of the third inning, Pierce extended ESU's lead to 6-0 with an RBI triple to left field.
Kutztown broke through with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Cam Burr delivered an RBI double to trim the deficit to 6-1.
The Golden Bears pulled within four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Dalton Furst collected an RBI on a groundout make the score 6-2.
How it Happened (Game Two) – ESU 4 Kutztown 0
ESU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, as Zampella drew a leadoff walk, stole second and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Manning.
The Warriors put together a two-out rally in the top of the third inning to stretch the advantage to 3-0, as Zampella doubled home Frey and later scored on a Kutztown error.
In the top of the fourth inning, Pierce launched his second home run of the day to left field, giving ESU a 4-0 lead.
Up Next
ESU returns to Creekview Park on Saturday to conclude the PSAC East series against Kutztown with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Prior to the game, the Warriors will celebrate Senior Day.
