Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

Millersville, Pa. - Millersville held off a furious Shepherd comeback attempt in the final inning of game two for a 6-4 victory Wednesday afternoon at the Millersville University Baseball Stadium. The win helped the Marauders offset the 7-3 loss they suffered a game one of the doubleheader.

After falling behind and never recovering in the opener, Millersville (16-17) jumped out to a sizable advantage on the visiting Rams (11-16) in the nightcap. The scoring started in the second when Keith Spencer scored Miles Gallagher on a sacrifice fly. The following inning, the Marauders used triples from Jeff Heisey and Adam Boyd and a double from Derek Kline to start a four-hit, four-run inning.

Boyd recorded his second RBI of the game and pushed Millersville's lead to 6-0 in the fourth on an RBI ground out.

With plenty of run support, starter Kyle Belanchik cruised through six shutout innings. In the seventh, however, Shepherd put the first four runners on board and scored two runs before Millersville coach Jon Shehan called on closer Zach Eckley. Eckley entered with no outs and the bases loaded and the first two batters ripped RBI singles, putting the go-ahead run on first base with still no outs.

Eckley, however, induced a 6-4-3 double play and forced the next batter to ground out to second, sealing the win for Belanchik and the Marauders.

Belanchik (1-3) notched his first win of the year after allowing four runs--two earned--and nine hits in six innings. Shepherd's Trevor Appleby (0-1) worked just 2.1 innings but gave up four runs and shouldered the loss.

In game one, Shepherd drew back-to-back walks to start the game and followed it with two singles, putting three runs on the board in the first inning off of freshman starter Jason E. Long. The Marauders picked up one in the second but all momentum was lost when the bases were left loaded.

Unlike the Marauders, Shepherd capitalized on its opportunities and strung together three runs on three hits in the third inning, taking a 6-1 lead.

Kent Gerdes ripped a two-run home run in the bottom of the inning, but three runs was all Millersville could muster against the crafty Kyle Shifflette (1-1). The Shepherd lefty pitched a complete game, scattering six hits and four walks and striking out one. Long (0-3) pitched 2.2 innings and gave up six runs on seven hits in the loss. Brooks Rothschild surrendered one run on two hits in 4.1 solid innings of relief.

Boyd led the Marauders at the plate with two hits and a walk.

Millersville hosts Philadelphia for a nine inning contest Thursday at 3 p.m.