Box Score

Dahlonega, Ga. - Millersville couldn't have played much better in its 2011 season opener. Pitchers Brooks Rothschild and Jason Long cruised and the lineup pounded out 10 hits in an 8-1 victory over previously unbeaten and eighth-ranked North Georgia Friday evening.

The win was Millersville's first in a season opener since 2004, and the eight runs were the most scored in an opener since 2002. North Georgia (6-1) entered the game unbeaten and with six games played. Millersville (1-0) was seeing its first live action on a baseball field since the fall, but it did not matter.

Rothschild (1-0) set the tone. He hurled 5.1 shutout innings, allowing only three hits and two walks. Including last year's win over then-No. 10 Kutztown, Rothschild has two-straight wins and 12.1 scoreless innings pitched against top-10 teams.

The bats took the pressure off of Rothschild early as Ryan McCormick scored on a Corey Phelan sacrifice fly in the top of the first. Millersville tacked on another in the fourth when Ryan Chesler ripped a triple to right center field, scoring Nick Bonadies.

North Georgia did not seriously threaten until the sixth. Two of the first three batters singled, bouncing Rothschild from the game. Junior lefty Jason Long entered and quickly escaped the jam by inducing a 6-4-3 double play.

Leading 3-0 in the eighth, Millersville added some insurance. Mike August, who recorded three hits in his first game as a Marauder, singled in Chesler, and Chris Edgar plated August and Jeff Heisey with a single of his own. In the ninth, Zach Stone provided an RBI double, and Heisey drove in Stone for an 8-0 lead.

After blanking North Georgia over 2.2 innings, Long gave way to senior Zach Eckley. Eckley gave up one run on one hit, one walk and an error, but closed out the Millersville win.

Seven different Marauders recorded at least one hit and eight scored one run. Stone and Edgar each drove in two runs.

North Georgia used six pitchers. Bryan Kearns (0-1) suffered the loss despite giving up one run in three innings.

The three-game series continues Saturday at 1 p.m.