Millersville, Pa. - Bobby Dorta entered in an unenviable spot in the top of the third inning, but the redshirt sophomore escaped the jam and went on to toss 4 2/3 shutout innings in Millersville's 5-2 game one win over Kutztown. In game two, however, Kutztown broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the seventh and Millersville was unable to answer, falling, 3-2.

Dorta picked up his first win of the season, allowing just one hit while striking out six. He was efficient, mowing through the Kutztown lineup in just 44 pitches. Game two starter Daniel Ross--making his first career start--was also impressive, giving up just two runs on three hits while striking out four in five innings. He, however, took a no decision as Millersville rallied to tie the game in the sixth before Kutztown scored in the seventh.

Millersville finished the four-game series with 13 runs with an average of just over six hits per game. Millersville had at least seven hits in each of the first 18 games, but has topped that marked just once in the last six games. Millersville has also not scored more than six runs in 11 consecutive games.

Millersville's record is now 15-9 (3-2 PSAC East) while Kutztown stayed at .500 with an 8-8 (2-4 mark).

GAME 1
A blister caused Millersville starter Drew Miller to exit in the top of the third, and Dorta came in with runners on second and third and one out with the game tied at 2-2. Dorta struck out the first batter he faced and got Mitch Pinder to ground out to third base, ending the inning and preserving the tie.

Dorta and Kutztown starter Stephen Wagner dueled until the sixth, when the Marauder bats finally broke through. Ben Snyder and Manning Brookens started the inning with singles. Jimmy Cain put down a bunt that was bobbled by Wagner, filling the bases with no outs. Brandon White then delivered a single to center, bringing home two. Eric Callahan gave some additional insurance with a sacrifice fly.

Dorta did the rest. The only hit he allowed was an infield single in the seventh.

Eight Marauders had one hit--seven of which were singles. Callahan had the team's lone extra-base hit--a double in the second.

GAME 2
Ross gave up just three hits and faced just four over the minimum through five innings, but Ariel Johnson's two-run homer with two outs in the second paved the way to Kutztown's 3-2 win.

Millersville had its chances. After a Manning Brookens RBI single with one out in the fourth, Millersville stranded two. The Marauders got a leadoff single from Callahan in the fifth but left him at second. The Marauders managed to tie the game at 2-2 in the sixth with a RBI ground out from Luke Trainer, but Brookens, who scored on the play, reached third on a wild pitch.

Kutztown, working against reliever Liam Grande (3-1), started the top of the seventh with three singles in four batters. The third, off the bat of Ben Rottet, gave Kutztown the 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Snyder drew a two-out walk and White followed with a single, but Kutztown closer Gavilan Fogarty-Harnish closed the door with two more Marauders stranded.

Kutztown's Mike Kammerer (2-2), who went six innings and allowed two runs on six hits and three walks, kept Millersville in check. The Marauders mustered just seven singles in the game.

Snyder reached base three times with a single and two walks.

UP NEXT
Millersville hosts Shippensburg in a rescheduled PSAC East doubleheader on Tuesday, April 3.