Box Scores - L 4-3, L 11-3

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Ashland scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 4-3 victory in the first game, and won the second game 11-3 to take both ends of a doubleheader against East Stroudsburg University at the Gene Cusic Classic on Thursday.

The Warriors (6-9) received a well-pitched game from sophomore Christian Saveri in the opener, as he gave up single runs in the first and fourth innings to keep ESU close, and the offense put up three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead.

John Pisker started the rally with a one-out walk, followed by a single from Kyle Sheaffer, and Chris Zsenak tied the game at 2-2 with a double to left center that scored both runners. After a pitching change, Zsenak moved up to third on a wild pitch, and came home on another wild pitch to give ESU a one-run advantage.

Ashland (9-4) scored the tying run on an error, and went ahead on an RBI single by Chase Beatty. ESU got its leadoff runner on base in the seventh but was unable to push a run across to extend the game.

Saveri struck out five batters and gave up only two earned runs in 5.1 innings but took the loss. Mike Walker got the final two outs of the sixth with strikeouts, and also threw 2.1 innings, struck out three and allowed one run in game two.

Ashland jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the nightcap with three runs in the first, another in the second and two in the third.

The Warriors did all of their scoring in the bottom of the third, getting on the board with a triple by Sheaffer and a sacrifice fly from Zsenak. ESU strung together three straight singles by Blake Knecht, Tom Admire and Kenny Serfass, with Serfass picking up a pair of RBI on his base hit.

Ashland scored four more runs (one earned) in the fifth and one more in the sixth to complete the scoring. The Eagles pounded out 20 hits in the second game, led by a 4-for-5 day from Jeff Yates.

Sheaffer, Knecht and Admire all collected two hits for ESU in the nightcap. Sophomore Ronald Manning got the start on the mound in his first action of the season.

ESU falls to 4-4 in Florida and will finish its stay with three games over the final two days, facing Southern New Hampshire and Minnesota-Duluth on Friday and Nebraska-Omaha on Saturday.