Cary, North Carolina - Execution. That was the recurring theme in Millersville's postgame press conference following a 2-1 loss to Nova Southeastern in game one of the NCAA Championship best-of-three series. Nova Southeastern hit a solo home run in the fourth and scored on a freak bunt play in the seventh while Millersville ran into two outs on the base paths and left eight runners on base while out-hitting the Sharks, 7-5.

"The bottom line is that they executed and we didn't," said Shehan. "Offensively (Nova Southeastern) executed well. They executed on the bases and we didn't. We didn't execute one play on defense. That's really how the game went. But you have to give them credit for getting the job done in big situations."

The Marauders sent ace Brandon Miller (12-2) to the mound for the series opener and staked the junior to a 1-0 lead when Chas McCormick hit a two-out triple off the right field wall in the bottom of the third. Miller pitched his third complete game in four postseason starts, struck out seven, scattered five hits and allowed just one unearned run. Two plays made the difference.

Shark clean-up hitter Brandon Gomez, a first team All-America designated hitter, smacked a 2-0 slider over the left-center field wall with two outs in the top of the fourth. It was his 21st homer of the season. In the sixth, Shark center fielder Kevin Suarez drew a walk. Andres Visbal put down a sacrifice bunt to the right side. With no Marauder in position to make the play, Miller slid, scooped the ball with his bare hand and rifled a throw to first. The ball got away and skipped down the right field line. Suarez, who was on his way to second, tore around the bases and scored without a play at the plate. That gave the Sharks a 2-1 lead. 

The Marauders had chances to answer. In the fifth Ted Williams walked and stole second. Tyler Orris followed with a sharply hit ground ball to the left side, which was scooped by shortstop Dylan Woods. He flipped to third and Williams was tagged for the second out. David Summerfield led off the seventh with a single but was promptly doubled off first when Dan Neff's liner was snared by third baseman Daniel Zardon.

Millersville put at least one runner on base in eight of the nine innings but reached scoring position just four times. The final chance came in the ninth when Jeremy Musser drew a leadoff walk against All-America closer Devin Raftery. A sac bunt moved Musser to second, but Raftery escaped with his 15th save, leaving Musser standing on second.

The Marauders now turn to the 12-0 Jim McDade in game two, knowing they must take two from Nova Southeastern on Saturday. The Marauders have responded from adversity before this season.

"We have two values: selfless and relentless," said Shehan. "I don't see us not being relentless tomorrow. Our guys live it out every day. Look back at the East Stroudsburg series. Brandon took a tough loss and we came back and played good baseball and won three straight games to take the series. I don't see us going away at all. This team is resilient."

First pitch for game two is set for 3 p.m. If necessary, game three will follow at 7 p.m.