BB4-24

ESU-Mansfield Baseball

MANSFIELD - East Stroudsburg University's Mike Pavolko hurled his second straight shutout as the Warriors blanked Mansfield, 2-0, in the second game of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader Monday.

The Mounties (22-15, 7-7 PSAC) took the opener, 11-3, scoring six runs in the second inning and five runs in the fifth.

Pavolko, named this week's PSAC Eastern Division Pitcher of the Week, allowed five hits and four walks, but he stranded eight Mansfield base-runners. He struck out six batters including fanning three in the sixth inning, the last one with the bases loaded.

The senior righthander kept the Mansfield hitters off-balanced all game and forced 13 infield outs. He ran his string of scoreless innings to 14 which included last week's 1-0 shutout victory over Millersville. His record is now 6-3 with two three-hitters, a four-hitter and a five-hitter.

"I was hitting my spots today and keeping the ball low. I think the difference for me this season is that I'm mixing up my pitches better and my slider and change-up are more effective," said Pavolko after the game. "

In the second inning, the Bethlehem-Freedom product was almost knocked out of the game as he was shelled by a line drive which bounced off his left wrist. He recovered, however, made the play and finished the contest.

"It swelled up a little, but I wasn't going to leave the game," said Pavolko afterwards. "Fortunately, it was my left wrist and not my right and I didn't need that to pitch."

Third baseman Ryan Hatfield provided the only run that Pavolko needed as he belted a home run over the rightfield fence with two out in the fourth inning. It was the third homer of the season for the freshman from Pottstown.

The Warriors (19-20, 7-9 PSAC) added an insurance run in the sixth inning. Scott Roth walked and was sacrificed to second on Matt Harmic's bunt and raced home on Joe Sobeski's double.

Both LaBar and Reynolds went 2 for 4.

In the opener, Mansfield took charge in the second inning as Scott Costa belted a three-run homer and Chad Swogger hit a two-run single. The Mounties had another pair of big hits in the fifth inning with Cory Goodman driving in two runs with a double and Derrick Nace two more runs with a single.

Swogger was 3 for 3 and Costa 2 for 3 in a 12-hit attack. LaBar was 2 for 3 for ESU, which scored a run in the fifth and two more in the seventh, all unearned.

(first game)

East Stroudsburg 000 010 2 3-7-2

Mansfield 060 050 x 11-12-2

Mike Zimorowicz, Jeff Wagner (6) and Joe Sobeski; Bill Allen, Bryan Fedor (6)

and Scott Costa. WP - Allen, LP - Zimorowicz

2B - ES, Brett Reynolds; M, Cory Goodman, R.J. Lee

HR - M, Costa 1st (two on)

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(second game)

East Stroudsburg 000 101 0 2-5-1

Mansfield 000 000 0 0-5-1

Mike Pavolko and Joe Sobeski; Shawn Wettig, Ryan Donnelly (6) and Scott Costa. LP - Wettig

2B - ES, Joe Sobeski

HR - ES, Ryan Hatfield 4th (none on)

Records: ESU 19-20, 7-9 PSAC), Mansfield 22-15, 7-7 PSAC)

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