FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Alexander's One-Hit Shutout Lifts Mounties Past East Stroudsburg
EAST STROUSBURG –
Tommy Alexander fired a one-hit shutout to lift Mansfield past East Stroudsburg 7-0 in the opener of a PSAC East doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Mitterling Field. The Mounties fell 9-2 in the nightcap.
Mansfield opened game one with a
Taylor Hillson walk and
Eric Schanzenbacher hit by pitch. A double steal moved the pair over a base, with Hillson capitalizing on a throwing error by the catcher to put Mansfield on the board. In the next at bat,
Anthony Renz roped an RBI double to score Schanzenbacher and give Mansfield the 2-0 lead.
Hillson and Schanzenbacher also led off the third inning by reaching base, this time with back-to-back singles.
Westyn Baylor followed with a single to load the bases before Renz came through with another RBI to score Hillson. Two at bats later with one out, an error by the ESU first baseman allowed Schanzenbacher and Baylor to score with
Zephan Kash moving to first on a fielder's choice and Renz advancing to second. A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position before a
Ryan Paige single followed by an error in right field brought home Kash and Renz to give Mansfield the 7-0 lead.
Alexander was perfect through the first 2.1 innings before allowing a walk, but quickly retired the side by forcing a double play ground ball in the bottom of the third.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Warriors got a leadoff walk but Alexander struck out the next batter. Christian Rishell recorded the first and only hit of the game for ESU to put runners at first and second. A groundout to second advanced the runners into scoring position before a walk loaded the bases with two outs. However, Alexander forced another groundout to end the threat and preserve the shutout.
Alexander went the distance to earn the complete game victory, striking out four while walking just three batters. Matt Festa took the loss after allowing six earned runs.
In game two, ESU was first to get on the board with
Dylan Tamecki's three-run homer in the bottom of the first. The Warriors plated another run in the second and two more in the third to jump out to a 6-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Mansfield got runners aboard when
Dave Glueck reached on an error and Kash walked. Both runners moved into scoring position on a passed ball before
Wes Custer brought home Glueck with a sacrifice fly to center field.
ESU plated three more runs in the sixth to climb to a 9-1 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Mansfield pushed across another run when Hillson scored on a Renz fielder's choice, but the Mounties were unable overcome their deficit.
Matt Engler took the loss, allowing six earned runs in 2.2 innings of work. Brandon Holup pitched 6.0 innings with seven Ks to earn the win.
The Mountaineers face off against ESU again tomorrow at Mitterling Field. Mansfield will play as the home team for the doubleheader.
