East Stroudsburg, Pa. – Junior Morgan Almodovar hit the game-winning home run in the top of the ninth inning in the 5-4 game one victory over PSAC East Division foe East Stroudsburg. In the second game, Millersville lost, 6-4.

The Marauders split their first conference matchup to put them at 12-9 (1-1). The Warriors moved to 7-13 (1-1).

Freshman Faith Willenbrock went 3 for 7 in the doubleheader but remains a homer shy of the Millersville single-season record. Freshman Allie Janowiak had a big game one by going 3 for 5 and then finished the second game with 1 for 4 showing. Janowiak extended her hitting streak to six games.

Sophomore Rebecca Blatt turned in a 4 for 7 performance that included two doubles, one home run and four RBIs. Blatt improved her batting average to .345. She extended her RBI streak to four games and her total to a PSAC-leading 30. 

GAME 1
Almodovar hit the game winning home run to left field in the top of the ninth inning to win 5-4 over the Warriors. That home run was Almodovar's first of the season. In the bottom of the ninth, a leadoff single by the Warriors was quickly cut down with a 4-3 line out double play. The Warriors inning ended with a runner on first. 

The game reached extra innings when East Stroudsdburg, trailing by two in the bottom of the seventh, received a two-run home run to center from Katelyn Caleen.

Millersville started the scoring in the first on a Willenbrock RBI single. The Warriors responded with two runs in the bottom of the first. ESU had two singles to score the two runs to take a 2-1 lead. 

In the third, Blatt doubled to center field to score Janowiak to tie the game at 2-2. Willenbrock grounded out to third for Blatt to advance and she scored on a miss throw by the first baseman. Later in the inning, junior Maggie Murphy homered to right field, her fourth of the season.

Janowiak went 3 for 5 with three singles. 

Freshman pitcher Catherine Johnson pitched all nine innings for the Marauders. She scattered 12 hits and three walks while striking out three. East Stroudsburg had three bases loaded opportunities and Johnson ended the inning with strike outs in two of those three situations.

GAME 2
Millersville led 4-1 but ESU scored five unanswered for the win. The Marauders led 4-3 in the sixth but the Warriors battled back in the bottom of the inning. A bases loaded walk and a wild pitch quickly tied the game at 4-4. Sophia Cecchin singled down the right field line to score two runners for a 6-4 lead. 

With the score tied 1-1 in the fifth, Blatt doubled in Janowiak and Almodovar. Then, Willenbrock singled to put Blatt at third. Murphy had a sac-fly to the left fielder for Blatt to tag and score. Blatt's run ended the three-run fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead. Ashley Spencer of East Stroudsburg hit her second home run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning to trail the Marauders, 4-2.

Blatt's sixth home run of the season came in the first inning.

Blatt went 2 for 3 with three RBIs, a double and a home run. Willenbrock went 2 for 4 with two singles.

Senior pitcher Cassidy Pinchorski went 4 2/3 innings while allowing five hits and one walk. Harris took the loss. Freshman Brianna White took the mound in the last inning.

NEXT UP
The Marauders return to Seaber Softball Stadium for their next match-up against Lock Haven on Saturday, March 31 at 1 p.m.