Erie, Pa. - Facing a win or go home game against W.Va. State Friday in the NCAA Atlantic Regional, Millersville's clean-up hitter and ace delivered. Dan Stoltzfus went 4-for-4 with two RBIs, and Chris Murphy hurled a complete game to improve to 12-0 in the 4-1 win.
 
The Marauders were shutout for just the second time in 2015 one day prior but ended the scoreless streak in a hurry against the Yellow Jackets. Tyler Orris smacked the first pitch of the game for a double, and Stoltzfus followed with a two-out triple to right field. John Brogan singled home Stoltzus, and the 2-0 lead was more than enough for Murphy, the NCBWA and Daktronics Pitcher of the Year.
 
"It was a huge confidence booster after not scoring any runs yesterday," said Murphy. "It was great to see the guys put two runs on the board right away."
 
"Being shutout, guys have the tendency to start questioning your ability as an offense," said head coach Jon Shehan. "We took an extra long BP today. Our guys were prepared, and it shows how mentally tough they are."
 
The lineup produced 13 hits, four of which came off the bat of Stoltzfus, who finished with two singles, a double and a triple. Not only did he put the Marauders on the board first, but he also broke open a tight, 2-1 game in the top of the eighth when a line drive over the head of center fielder allowed Chas McCormick to score from first base. Stoltzfus boosted his season RBI total to 78.
 
"The coaching staff looked at it last night and our one through four hitters went 1-for-16 yesterday," said Shehan. "That's not going to happen often with this club. Dan did a great job. He is the pillar in the middle of the lineup. He did an awesome job picking the team up today."
 
Despite out-hitting the Yellow Jackets by seven, Millersville stranded eight runners, had three thrown out at the plate and committed a pair of errors that helped the game stay close until late. Murphy, the ace of the staff, scattered six hits, struck out six and did not walk a batter; the performance that was needed and expected from the three-time PSAC East Pitcher of the Year.
 
"That was Chris Murphy being Chris Murphy," said Shehan. "He has done it year in and year in out. It is a privilege to watch him throw. He's the kind of guy that you question yourself in year eight with hopefully 30 years left of coaching if you will ever see another guy do the kind of stuff he does."
 
After Millersville jumped out to a 2-0 lead, W.Va. State received a RBI base hit from Phil Mandt in the second to cut the Marauders' lead in half. In the sixth, the Yellow Jackets put runners on second and third with one out, but Murphy thwarted the chart by getting Treyvon Patterson to ground out to third, and striking out Jordan Simpson.
 
"That was huge," said Murphy. "The strikeout pitch was a slider that had gotten away from me up in the zone. Luckily he swung at it."
 
Murphy was nearly unhittable the rest of the way. He retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced and rolled three consecutive ground outs to freshman Ted Williams at second base in the ninth.
 
Tyler Hall (5-2) was the hard-luck loser for the Yellow Jackets. He gave up two runs, four of which were earned, over seven innings of work. John Brogan went 2-for-3 to improve to 4-for-6 in the tournament. Williams came into the game in search of his first collegiate hit and went 3-for-4 with a stolen base.

Millersville moves on to play Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The opponent will be decided later Friday.