Greenwood, S.C. - Lander jumped out to an early lead for the second day in a row and held off a late Millersville charge for an 8-6 win Saturday.
The first four Bearcats to the plate reached base, and before the Marauders ever recorded an out, Lander held a 3-0 lead.The home team added a solo home run in the second and chased Millersville starter
Cordell Shannon out of the game in the fourth inning, scoring two more runs to take a 5-1 lead. Millersville chipped away with runs in the fifth, seventh and three in the ninth, but Lander kept its distance with two runs off of the Millersville bullpen.
"Lander's hitters are super aggressive and did a good job being ready to hit Shannon's fastball," said Millersville head coach
Jon Shehan. "He made a few mistakes early and they capitalized. The second time through they adjusted to the change of pace and knocked him out of the game. Tomorrow we need to do a better job establishing the breaking ball for a strike earlier int he game. Our starting pitching is still our strength. We trust those guys, and it will get better."
Millersville totaled 10 hits to Lander's 11, and the Bearcats also committed four errors but Millersville could not fully take advantage. In the third, a pair of Lander errors put Marauders on first and second but a fly out ended the inning. In the fourth, trailing 4-1,
Eric Callahan hit a two-out single and
Kaylor Kulina and
Cole Friese drew back-to-back walks to load the bases.
Ben Snyder represented the go-ahead run, but Lander starter Davis Cunningham got Snyder to ground out to second base.
"Earlier in the inning Brookens got caught stealing on a run and hit," said Shehan. "I guessed fastball and Callahan did his job and took the breaking ball. Brookens ran into the shortstop before he could get to the bag. The shorstsop did a great job catching the ball and applying the tag but without the collision he is safe. That really changed the inning. We likely score at least one run, and Snyder hits with one out or less. Ben's at bats have been really good. He hit that particular ball hard but didn't elevate it. He has hit quite a few balls hard but hasn't been able to find grass. It's baseball. We will get it going offensively as we get more AB's."
Millersville entered the ninth trailing 8-3.
Jimmy Cain led off with a double and scored on a
Dominic Hardaway single. Freshman
Jimmy Losh singled to continue the inning. With two outs, Callahan struck out but a passed but allowed Losh and Hardaway to score. Millersville got no closer, as Nick Foray, who pitched the final two innings, got Kulina to fly out to end the game.
"It was good to see us not roll over," said Shehan. "We could have easily done that. I was very pleased with our at bats as the game went on--not so much yesterday or earlier in the game today. We are making better decisions and getting on time. It takes time to get rolling offensively."
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Losh went 2-for-4 while making his collegiate debut.
• Brookens went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs. Callahan had two hits and a RBI.
Cole Friese reached base with a hit and a walk. Kulina drew two walks.
• Shannon took the loss after allowing six runs off five hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings. Freshman
Kris Pirozzi gave up two runs on two hits and three walks in two innings in his collegiate debut.
Alex Mykut also made his debut, pitching two scoreless innings.
NOTES
• It is the first time since 2013 that Millersville has started the season with back-to-back losses.
• Shannon moved past Matt Wagner and
Tad Barton into fourth in career innings pitched at Millersville.
UP NEXT
• Millersville closes its series with Lander Sunday at 12 p.m.
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