Saturday, May 28
Cary, N.C.
5 p.m.
Millersville University
1
vs
3
Mount Olive
Marauders' Comeback Halted By Trojans
5/28/2011 8:24:49 PM | Baseball
Box Score | Photo Gallery | NCAA.com Game Wrap
Cary, N.C. - Coach Jon Shehan and Millersville learned a lot from Saturday's 3-1 NCAA Division II Championship loss to Mount Olive. The Marauders, playing in their first NCAA finals since 1998 and just the second in school history, went blow-for-blow with No. 2 Mount Olive but a late-inning rally came up just short.
Mount Olive (46-8), the tournament host, was considered by many as the favorite entering the weekend. The Trojans needed just a 72-mile drive to arrive at the USA Baseball Complex, and they brought a vocal following with them. Along with the Millersville contingent, it made up a crowd of 1,230 fans--the largest to watch an NCAA Championship event at the venue. Playing like the hometown team early, Mount Olive built a 3-0 lead after three innings and received 6.1 perfect innings from starter Pete Levitt.
Millersville made it interesting late, finally cracking Levitt in the seventh, but the Marauders stranded four runners in the final three innings. The Marauders didn't know what to expect entering the championship, but it was evident immediately following the game that the close loss only boosted their confidence.
"It was a well played baseball game," said Shehan. "Good defense and good pitching on both sides of the ball. They got some big time hits with two outs. I have to give them a lot of credit for swinging the bats.
"I'm going to look back on this game knowing we went head-to-head with one of the best teams in the country, and we battled our rear-ends off," continued Shehan. "I don't think there's any doubt after that game that we have one of the best teams in the country. For our younger guys, we can build on that. Whether it be Monday or next year, our guys are starting to believe."
Levitt retired the first 19 batters he faced by being aggressive with his fastball. That strategy caught the Marauders off guard the first couple of times through the lineup.
"He pounded the strike zone," said Shehan. "He attacked the zone early with a lot of fastballs. We haven't seen that all year. Most of the teams we've faced have started us with a lot of breaking balls and off-speed pitches. He's a guy with a 90 mile per hour, professional fastball. He's going to come at you. I thought we missed some pitches we should have hit, fouled a lot of pitches back. The guys were a little bit frustrated and a little bit anxious, but he did a phenomenal job for the first seven innings."
"We were thinking way too much in the box," said third baseman Zach Stone. "We were looking curveball and splitter, and he was throwing the fastball right by us. I guess that can be (blamed on) jitters or whatever, but we just didn't get it done."
With the offense sputtering, Marauder starter Brooks Rothschid battled hard. He rolled a double play to end the first and stranded two Trojans in the second. In the third, the Trojans got on the board with a two-run triple from Jacob Rogers. Rothschild continued to grind, though, and allowed only one more run--a solo homer in the sixth to All-American slugger Mike Knox. Rothschild pitched a workman-like 7.1 innings, scattering eight hits and three walks.
Rothschild finally got some help in the seventh. Chris Edgar slapped a slow chopper that second baseman Dan Hayduk had to charge. The ball skidded under Hayduk's glove, and he was charged with an error, ending Levitt's perfect game bid.
That was enough to get the Marauder bats rolling. With two outs, Zach Stone ripped a line drive single over the third baseman's head, breaking up the no hitter. Mike August followed with a RBI single to left-center. Millersville had the go-ahead run at the plate, but Levitt escaped the jam with a strikeout.
Mike Perez, who totaled six hits in three regional games, led off the eighth with a double off the center field wall. The Marauders couldn't push pinch-runner Dan Johnson home, though. In the ninth, Mark Mairano drew a walk. Mount Olive then called on All-American starter Carter Capps to make just his fourth relief appearance of the year. The NCAA record-holder for consecutive victories (24) retired the side with a strikeout and two fly outs.
Millersville managed three hits in the game, and must now turn its attention to No. 3 Central Missouri, which was surprised by Winona State 4-3 in the first game of the day.
"I believe this makes (the next game) easier," said Stone. "The first game is out of the way. We went against a really good team. Coach said we faced a good pitcher today, and we'll move on from there."
Like Mount Olive, Central Missouri is no stranger to the postseason. It boasts a 49-9 record in 2011 and has made 16-straight NCAA Tournaments. Facing elimination, Shehan and the Marauders are unphased.
"Our guys know we haven't looked at a scouting report all year," said Shena. "It's kind of becoming a joke, but we just do not care about other clubs. Our goal all year has been to make the other team worry about us. Let them know we battle, know that we fight, play great defense and throw a lot of strikes. That's our goal on Monday. Our motto has been “So What” all year, and that's what it's going to be this week. So what. We lost a game, but that's baseball. We played a good game and lost 3-1. That happens."
Millersville and Central Missouri meet at 1 p.m. on Monday. Fans can listen live on MSBN.
Cary, N.C. - Coach Jon Shehan and Millersville learned a lot from Saturday's 3-1 NCAA Division II Championship loss to Mount Olive. The Marauders, playing in their first NCAA finals since 1998 and just the second in school history, went blow-for-blow with No. 2 Mount Olive but a late-inning rally came up just short.
Mount Olive (46-8), the tournament host, was considered by many as the favorite entering the weekend. The Trojans needed just a 72-mile drive to arrive at the USA Baseball Complex, and they brought a vocal following with them. Along with the Millersville contingent, it made up a crowd of 1,230 fans--the largest to watch an NCAA Championship event at the venue. Playing like the hometown team early, Mount Olive built a 3-0 lead after three innings and received 6.1 perfect innings from starter Pete Levitt.
Millersville made it interesting late, finally cracking Levitt in the seventh, but the Marauders stranded four runners in the final three innings. The Marauders didn't know what to expect entering the championship, but it was evident immediately following the game that the close loss only boosted their confidence.
"It was a well played baseball game," said Shehan. "Good defense and good pitching on both sides of the ball. They got some big time hits with two outs. I have to give them a lot of credit for swinging the bats.
"I'm going to look back on this game knowing we went head-to-head with one of the best teams in the country, and we battled our rear-ends off," continued Shehan. "I don't think there's any doubt after that game that we have one of the best teams in the country. For our younger guys, we can build on that. Whether it be Monday or next year, our guys are starting to believe."
Levitt retired the first 19 batters he faced by being aggressive with his fastball. That strategy caught the Marauders off guard the first couple of times through the lineup.
"He pounded the strike zone," said Shehan. "He attacked the zone early with a lot of fastballs. We haven't seen that all year. Most of the teams we've faced have started us with a lot of breaking balls and off-speed pitches. He's a guy with a 90 mile per hour, professional fastball. He's going to come at you. I thought we missed some pitches we should have hit, fouled a lot of pitches back. The guys were a little bit frustrated and a little bit anxious, but he did a phenomenal job for the first seven innings."
"We were thinking way too much in the box," said third baseman Zach Stone. "We were looking curveball and splitter, and he was throwing the fastball right by us. I guess that can be (blamed on) jitters or whatever, but we just didn't get it done."
With the offense sputtering, Marauder starter Brooks Rothschid battled hard. He rolled a double play to end the first and stranded two Trojans in the second. In the third, the Trojans got on the board with a two-run triple from Jacob Rogers. Rothschild continued to grind, though, and allowed only one more run--a solo homer in the sixth to All-American slugger Mike Knox. Rothschild pitched a workman-like 7.1 innings, scattering eight hits and three walks.
Rothschild finally got some help in the seventh. Chris Edgar slapped a slow chopper that second baseman Dan Hayduk had to charge. The ball skidded under Hayduk's glove, and he was charged with an error, ending Levitt's perfect game bid.
That was enough to get the Marauder bats rolling. With two outs, Zach Stone ripped a line drive single over the third baseman's head, breaking up the no hitter. Mike August followed with a RBI single to left-center. Millersville had the go-ahead run at the plate, but Levitt escaped the jam with a strikeout.
Mike Perez, who totaled six hits in three regional games, led off the eighth with a double off the center field wall. The Marauders couldn't push pinch-runner Dan Johnson home, though. In the ninth, Mark Mairano drew a walk. Mount Olive then called on All-American starter Carter Capps to make just his fourth relief appearance of the year. The NCAA record-holder for consecutive victories (24) retired the side with a strikeout and two fly outs.
Millersville managed three hits in the game, and must now turn its attention to No. 3 Central Missouri, which was surprised by Winona State 4-3 in the first game of the day.
"I believe this makes (the next game) easier," said Stone. "The first game is out of the way. We went against a really good team. Coach said we faced a good pitcher today, and we'll move on from there."
Like Mount Olive, Central Missouri is no stranger to the postseason. It boasts a 49-9 record in 2011 and has made 16-straight NCAA Tournaments. Facing elimination, Shehan and the Marauders are unphased.
"Our guys know we haven't looked at a scouting report all year," said Shena. "It's kind of becoming a joke, but we just do not care about other clubs. Our goal all year has been to make the other team worry about us. Let them know we battle, know that we fight, play great defense and throw a lot of strikes. That's our goal on Monday. Our motto has been “So What” all year, and that's what it's going to be this week. So what. We lost a game, but that's baseball. We played a good game and lost 3-1. That happens."
Millersville and Central Missouri meet at 1 p.m. on Monday. Fans can listen live on MSBN.
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