Winston-Salem, N.C. – Senior pitcher Chris Murphy picked up right where he left off. The two-time PSAC East Pitcher of the Year and preseason All-American tossed seven shutout innings as the No. 32 Millersville Marauders routed Atlantic Region rival Winston-Salem State 8-3 in the season opener.
 
Murphy (1-0) improved his career record to 22-4 after scattering five hits and striking out six. He surrendered only one extra base hit. The Marauder lineup provided plenty of support with 10 hits including two apiece from Tyler Orris, Jeremy Musser and Dan Stoltzfus. For Musser, it was his first game played since the 2013 season finale, and he quickly returned to form, going 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
 
Winston-Salem State (2-1), which has qualified for the NCAA Atlantic Regional in each of the last four seasons, was handed its first loss. The two teams have met in the opening series in each of the last four seasons, and Friday's win was the Marauders' first in the opener since 2012.
 
Millersville scored all of its runs in the fourth and fifth innings. The fourth began with three consecutive hits from Musser, Stoltzfus and Luke Emling. Emling's double brought home Musser for the game's first run. Mitch Stoltzfus plated his cousin, Dan, with a ground out. While the Marauders left the bases loaded, they more than made up for that in the fifth.
 
Dan Neff walked and Musser and Stoltzfus once again started the charge with back-to-back singles. Emling drew a bases-loaded walk, and two consecutive Ram errors pushed runs across. David Summerfield drove in a run. Neff stepped to the plate for the second time in the inning and drove home another run, giving Millersville an 8-0 lead.
 
Winston-Salem State scored all three runs in the eighth off of redshirt freshman reliever Reid Anderson. Jesse Mowen entered with the bases loaded and after giving up one hit and an allowing an inherited runner to score, he navigated the Rams' lineup for three outs. Matt Binder entered in the ninth and pitched a shutout inning.
 
Millersville and Winston-Salem State play game two of the series on Saturday afternoon.