Williamston, North Carolina - Dan Neff,
Chas McCormick,
Mitch Stoltzfus and
David Summerfield hit home runs as part of Millersville's seven-run fourth inning, and the Marauders overcame an early deficit to win game two 11-7, salvaging a split after a 7-5 loss in the opener of Saturday's doubleheader against Pitt-Johnstown.
Millersville (5-2) received at least two hits from five players in the game two victory. Neff hit two home runs and a double, drove in three and scored three times. Summerfield plated four runs on two hits. Stoltzfus had a double, home run and two RBIs.
The Marauders trailed Pitt-Johnstown 4-3 entering the bottom of the fourth, and the first two batters to the plate grounded out. But
Ted Williams started a two-out rally with a single, and Neff hit his first homer of the season. The next two batters, McCormick and Stoltzfus, followed with solo homers of their own, giving Millersville back-to-back-to-back blasts. After
Ben Snyder walked and
Jimmy Cain reached on an error,
David Summerfield hit a three-run homer to put the Marauders in double figures.
Freshman
Tyler Yankosky was credited with four runs allowed, two of which were earned, and he struck out eight in 3 2/3 innings.
Matt Ulrich made his 2017 debut and picked up the win after tossing 2 2/3 innings in relief.
Mike Mock came on in the seventh with two runners on base and struck out two in a row to end the threat.
The Mountain Cats improved to 5-0 after scoring seven runs in the first inning of game one and holding off the Marauders' late rally. UPJ scored all of its runs in the first inning off of Millersville starter
David Manasek, who lasted just 2/3 of an inning. The Mountain Cats opened with back-to-back walks, a RBI double and a three-run home run. Before Manasek exited, UPJ had sent 10 runners to the plate, totaling three walks, three home runs and five total hits.
Millersville turned to redshirt freshman
Bobby Dorta, and he quieted the Mountain Cats' lineup and gave Millersville a chance to pull close late by tossing 4 1/3 shutout innings, striking out six and allowing just two hits.
Millersville pulled within two runs after Cain doubled in a pair in the sixth, but he was thrown out trying to stretch his double to a triple, and the next to batters were retired. Millersville could not mount a rally in the seventh, going down in order Ben Foose, who picked up a save with two innings of work.
The Marauders have played in Williamston, N.C., in seven of the last eight seasons, posting a 17-2 record before going 2-2 this weekend. Millersville next travels to Mars Hill for four games from Feb. 25-26.