GREENSBURG, Pa. - It was a rematch of last season's PSAC Championship game and NCAA Atlantic Regional elimination game, but on Saturday, Millersville's offense looked nothing like the one that Seton Hill's Michael Bryja shut down twice in the 2018 postseason. After Seton Hill rallied to tie the game with a five-run fifth, the Marauders broke the tie in the sixth and pulled away for a 10-6 win.
The win was Millersville's ninth in a row and 12th in the last 13 games. Millersville banged out 14 hits and scored double-digit runs for the seventh time in the last 13 games. It stood in stark contrast to the the 2018 postseason when Millersville totaled just one run in 18 innings against Seton Hill, and Bryja himself allowed just one run on 10 hits in 14 2/3 innings. This time around, the Marauders bounced Bryja after 4 1/3, tagging him for five runs on 11 hits.
"When you see a guy for the third time you can put together a good game plan and put it into practice," said Millersville head coach
Jon Shehan. "I am happy with how they handled themselves and how we were ready for what he was going to throw us and how he was going to attack us. The veteran guys did a great job putting that information to work."
Players who faced Bryja last season accounted for 11 of Millersville's 14 hits. The first seven hitters in the order had at least one hit and five recorded two or more.
Ben Snyder went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run and an RBI.
Dominic Hardaway drove in three runs.
Cole Friese went 2-for-6 and hit a two-run homer in the ninth that helped Millersville pull away.
The Marauders took a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth using a sacrifice fly and two-run single from Hardaway, an RBI single from
Luke Trainer and an RBI single from
Eric Callahan combined with the pitching effort of starter
Drew Miller. Miller allowed just three singles through his first four innings. In the fifth, however, a leadoff walk, stolen base and single put Seton Hill on the board. After another walk,
Noah Hartwell was called from the pen. Tommy Pellis hit a three-run homer and Parker Denny followed with a solo shot, tying the game at 5-5. Hartwell managed to get out of the inning with back-to-back strike outs.
Millersville struck right back in the sixth. Friese started the inning with an infield single and
Kaylor Kulina reached on an error. The pair pulled off a double steal, and Snyder's sacrifice fly put Millersville back in the lead. Walks to Hardaway and Trainer loaded the bases, and a wild pitch scored Kulina from third. An error on a Callahan grounder to shortstop allowed one more run to cross.
"We answered," said Shehan. "Hartwell has pitched well and it was uncharacteristic of him to give up those runs. They hit the two home runs but we responded. I was happy with the way we battled right back on offensively."
Andrew Mayhew took the ball in the bottom of the sixth pitched the final four innings for the save. Seton Hill scratched together one run in the eighth to make the score 8-6 but would get no closer. Mayhew struck out six while allowing just one run on two hits and a walk.
"Even though [Mayhew] is a sophomore, we feel he is a veteran out of the bullpen," said Shehan. "He loves the big spot and had some success against Seton Hill last year. He was able to locate both his fastball and slider today."
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Snyder's three hits extended his hitting streak to nine games.
• Friese went 2-for-6 with two RBIs and two runs while hitting his third homer of the season. Friese has reached base in all 16 games this season.
• Kulina went 2-for-6 with a team-high three runs scored.
Jimmy Losh and Callahan both had two hits.
Mark Miller hit his first career double.
• Millersville stole a season-high five bases.
NOTES
• Millersville improved to 9-7 all-time against Seton Hill and has won five consecutive regular season match-ups.
• Millersville's nine consecutive wins are its longest streak since a 10-game winning streak in 2016.
UP NEXT
• Millersville closes its weekend with an 18-inning day Sunday. The Marauders play Le Moyne at 12 p.m., and close with Seton Hill at 3 p.m.
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