Box Score
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – East Stroudsburg rode a five-run fifth inning to its first conference title in 41 years as West Chester University dropped a 7-1 decision to the Warriors in the 2013 PSAC Baseball Championship Game at Point Stadium Saturday afternoon.
West Chester (25-24-1) was making its second straight conference finals appearance and looking for title No. 8. But, East Stroudsburg (33-16) rode its ace, Brian Ernst, on just two days rest to its fifth overall crown and second since the PSAC instituted a postseason tournament in 1970.
Ernst, named the tournament MVP, tossed eight innings, allowing one unearned run on six hits while walking three and striking out nine. Ernst led ESU offensively and on the mound, going 8-for-16 with two RBI and four runs scored at the plate while throwing 13.2 innings on the mound, allowing just four earned runs and striking out 13.
For West Chester, senior Conor Kerins (2-5) was handed the ball. He was making his third start in a PSAC Championship Game in his college career. He was the winning pitcher in 2009 against Mercyhurst as well as last spring against Kutztown. Kerins threw four innings, giving up one run on five hits. He walked one and did not strike out a batter.
In three PSAC Championship Game starts, Kerins went 2-1, allowing two earned runs in 14 innings of work. He scattered 11 hits, walked eight and struck out eight.
Kyle Weary came on in the fifth and went the rest of the way for the Rams. He was tagged for six runs, four of them earned, on six hits. He walked two and struck out two.
Six different players registered a base hit for the Golden Rams. Nick Bonadies’ RBI single in the sixth was all the offense West Chester could muster against Ernst.
East Stroudsburg earns the PSAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Baseball Tournament. They will take part in the six-team, double-elimination Atlantic Regional.
