FLUSHING, N.Y. — The ESU baseball team took on Queens for its first non-conference game in three weeks, defeating the Knights 9-5 with seven unanswered runs.
BATTING NOTABLES
- Walker Zampella and Chase Frantz had multi-RBI days at the plate, each driving in a pair of runs. Zampella went 3-5 with a walk, while Frantz went 2-3, reaching base after being hit by a pitch twice. They each scored once as well.
- Cole Serfass got on base safely four times today, going 3-4 with a base on balls. He recorded one RBI and scored three times himself.
- In total, seven different batters accounted for ESU's nine RBIs. Parker Frey, Ryan Manning, Connor Reilly, and Troy Davis all generated offense, with Frey, Manning, and Reilly tallying two hits too.
PITCHING NOTABLES
- Kyle Phillips came in early and quieted the Queens' offense after a big first inning. He ended up pitching 2.2 IP, striking out three batters while only giving up three hits.
- Evan Kovalcik picked up his first career win at ESU, throwing two full innings after Phillips. He also finished with three Ks while only allowing two baserunners.
- Patrick Yoder followed suit with another scoreless 2.0 IP. In his third appearance where he didn't give up any runs out of four total, he limited Queens to two hits.
- Cole Dymek and Johansel Brito handled the final two innings with an inning each on the mound, shutting the door on any comeback hopes the Knights had.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both offenses came out of the gates hot, as ESU put up two runs in the top of the first. Zampella got on base with a one-out single, stealing second with two outs. Serfass reached first base with an infield single, and Manning opened the scoring with a single to drive home Zampella. Frantz was hit in a full count to load the bases, and then Reilly drew a five-pitch walk to make it 2-0.
- Queens got through against Cade Davis immediately in the bottom of the first, as ESU turned to its bullpen a third of the way through the inning. Phillips came into the game with bases loaded and one out, limiting the damage to one more run on a sacrifice fly, as Queens led 5-2.
- Troy Davis wore a pitch, reaching base with one out. During Zampella's at-bat, he was able to steal both second and third base. After fouling off four straight pitches, Zampella got hold of one to send it through the left side, trimming the deficit to two.
- After hitting his first home run as a Warrior in ESU's last game, Serfass made it two games in a row in the top of the third. As the leadoff batter, he pulled the first pitch he saw over the left field wall to make it a one-run game.
- The Warriors retook the lead later in the top of the fifth, using a three-run inning to jump back out in front. Serfass started the inning with a single, and Manning laid down a bunt to reach first base safely. They moved into scoring position after a wild pitch was thrown to Frantz at the plate, who then scored both with a single to left field. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded and one out, Davis hit a flyout to the right fielder, giving Frantz enough time to make it home and add an insurance run, making it 7-5.
- ESU threatened again in the top of the seventh in a position to extend its lead. With the bases loaded and one out, Zampella and Frey both walked in runs each, making it 9-5 with six outs to go.
- In the bottom of the ninth down four, Brito got his first two outs on strikeouts before recording an unassisted groundout to ice the game, holding on to a 9-5 win for the Warriors.
UP NEXT
ESU is back to conference play this weekend, traveling to take on Shippensburg at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 17, to start the doubleheader.
