MANSFIELD, Pa. — After winning its 16
th straight game against Mansfield, the ESU baseball team completed a four-game sweep on Saturday, winning the final two games of the series 10-0 and 10-3.
BATTING NOTABLES
- Zander Condeelis was ESU's most productive batter in game one, going 2-3 with three RBI. He scored two runs himself, stealing three bases as well. He went 1-2 in the second game with a walk too.
- Troy Davis was the leadoff batter for the Warriors in both games, going 1-3 in the first game with a pair of RBI and three stolen bases. He scored one run in each game, adding two more hits in the second game.
- Cole Serfass picked up his first home run as a Warrior, highlighting a two-hit, three-RBI day for the former Mountaineer.
- Chase Frantz and Walker Zampella each had three hits in the second game, as Frantz went 3-4, while Zampella drove in one RBI and scored two times.
- Parker Frey rounded out a standout series, going 2-4 in the second game, reaching base a third time on a walk. He scored two of the three times he made it on base safely.
PITCHING NOTABLES
- Evan Hughes found his form again with a bounce-back performance from his last start, throwing five full innings of shutout pitching. He only gave up two hits and one walk, striking out six Mountaineers.
- Kyle Phillips and Evan Kovalcik handled the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, not giving up a hit while recording the final six outs. Kovalcik struck out one batter in the bottom of the seventh.
- Peyton Brannock got his fourth win of the season, now with a 4-2 record. He threw two shutout innings to start the game and finished with a pair of strikeouts.
- Caden Leonard completely shut down Mansfield's lineup, throwing 3.1 IP. He only gave up one hit and didn't allow a walk, striking out seven batters.
- Cade Davis wrapped up the game with a four-strikeout bottom of the seventh inning.
GAME ONE
- The offense got going immediately to start the day, as ESU got on the board in the top of the first inning. Davis got into scoring position before an out was recorded, drawing a base on balls and stealing second base. On the fourth ball against Zampella, Davis was able to steal third base as well, giving Serfass runners on the corners with one out. He singled to left field, getting Davis home for the game's first run.
- It was a short day for Mansfield's Quinn Shindler on the mound, as the Warriors would chase him from the game before the end of the second inning. He loaded the bases with walks to Ryan Manning and Connor Reilly, followed by hitting Christian Maccarrone. Condeelis singled to left field, scoring the two lead runners and moving Maccarrone to third base. Condeelis moved into scoring position with a successful stolen base attempt, and with the lineup turned over, Davis came through with a base hit to drive in both runners, making it 5-0.
- Through his first time through the Mansfield lineup, Hughes retired all nine batters in order. He had at least one strikeout in each inning, picking up two in both the second and third innings.
- The Warriors added to their lead in the top of the fourth thanks to opportunistic base running by Condeelis. He started the inning with a walk, advancing to second after an error by the relief pitcher, Austin Beauchamp. Condeelis then stole third base, the second Warrior to do so in the game, and made it home off an error by Mansfield's catcher, Brinden Floyd.
- ESU poured it on in the top of the fifth, adding three more runs to its lead. After a single to center field by Frey and a walk by Manning, Reilly recorded an RBI single and moved Manning to third base. Reilly stole second base during the next at-bat, but both runners remained where they were after an unassisted groundout to first base. During the next at-bat, though, both runners scored on two different plays. A pitch got past Floyd, giving Manning a window to make it home safely. With Reilly now at third, Condeelis singled to the outfield, making it 9-0.
- The tenth and final run of the game in the top of the sixth, with Guy Longenberger now on the mound for Mansfield. He ran into some trouble out of the gate, as Zampella reached on an error by the shortstop, Kahale Burns, and Ryland Yinger got on base with a walk. Zampella advanced to third base on a flyout, then scored on a Manning sacrifice fly.
GAME TWO
- It was more of the same for the Warriors in the final game of the series, getting the scoring started in the top of the first again. Zampella sent a one-out single into left field, and then Frey slapped a ball down the left field line to give ESU runners at first and third base. During Serfass' at-bat, a passed ball allowed each runner to advance, with Zampella being the game's first run. With Tyler Swineford already facing trouble as Mansfield's starter, Serfass got his first home run as a Warrior, a two-run shot to make it 3-0.
- ESU took advantage of another error by Mansifeld, this time as Davis reached base and made it to second base on an inaccurate throw by the third baseman, Billy Riggs. Zampella singled up the middle, adding a run to the Warriors' lead as Davis crossed the plate.
- Mansfield scored its first runs of the day, and first in 12 innings, in the bottom of the third to make it a one-run game. Ryan Sekulski singled but was picked off by Brannock to start the inning, but the next three batters all reached safely. Slade McTigue walked, and Peter Tadic and Riggs hit back-to-back doubles for one RBI each. After Brannock got another out, Cooper Rother hit the Mountaineers' third double of the inning, cutting their deficit to one.
- Leonard came into the game for the final out of the third inning, giving the Mansfield lineup nothing to work with. After striking out the first batter he faced, he went on to record five Ks in the next two innings, all with swings and misses.
- After being held scoreless for three innings, the Warriors' bats woke up to provide more than enough insurance with a six-run sixth inning. Consecutive singles by Zampella and Frey started the inning, and Aidan Butz came into the game for Serfass, as everyone advanced safely off an error by the center fielder, Tanner Hoffman. Manning drove in two runs with a single back out to Hoffman in center field, as the Mountaineers switched from Evan Woznick on the mound to Taylor Blevins. Both Manning and Butz moved up into scoring position, as Manning beat the throw to second base. Reilly recorded two more RBI with a single to left field, clearing the bases. Frantz kept the hits going with a single to left field, and a flyout got Reilly over to third base. Reilly's run made it 9-0 after Maccarrone beat out a double play ball, then he got to third base on a single by Davis. The leadoff batter stole second base, as the throw went into the outfield, allowing Maccarrone to trot home.
- Cade Davis pitched the final inning for ESU, striking out Sekulski, who was still able to reach first base. After a walk, Davis responded with three more strikeouts, finishing with four in the inning and shutting the door on the series.
GAME NOTES
- The Warriors have now won 16 consecutive games against Mansfield, including three series sweeps, going back to 2022. It's not just the longest winning streak for ESU against the Mountaineers, but any PSAC opponent as well.
UP NEXT
Winners in seven of their last eight, the Warriors will travel to Flushing, N.Y., on Tuesday for a non-conference game against Queens before taking on Shippensburg next weekend.
