MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Shepherd rolled into Cooper Park with a 10-game winning streak and the top run-producing offense in the Atlantic Region, but No. 18 Millersville slowed the Rams by using seven pitchers, and a three-run first inning was enough offense for a 3-1 win, evening the season series at one win apiece.

Shepherd (29-11) entered the game ranked 10th in Division II in runs scored and had totaled 12 or more runs in eight of the last 10 games. A day removed from completing a highly-competitive series with West Chester and with a key PSAC East series with second place East Stroudsburg looming, Millersville (31-9) got creative. Reliever Tyler Yankosky started and went one inning with three other Marauders pitching an inning apiece before Bobby Dorta pitched the fifth and sixth and Aidan Welch pitched the seventh and eighth. Paul Wilson, making just his fourth appearance of the season, scored his first save since March 4, 2017 (also against Shepherd).

"Our strategy played out pretty close to the way we planned it," said Millersville head coach Jon Shehan. "We wanted to throw our guys who have been successful in pressure situations against the top of their lineup. Their lineup is really good, and we wanted to have our best guys in there. We got some big outs early from Yankosky. Dorta made some big pitches; Welch made some big pitches. Of course, Wilson made some good pitches as well."

While Shepherd out-hit Millersville 10-8, the Rams never got comfortable against the revolving door of Marauders. Shepherd stranded 10 runners and had two runners on in six of the nine innings, but the only run Millersville allowed came in the fourth on a hit-batsman and a pair of wild pitches. Yankosky and Christian Wingard rolled inning-ending double plays in the first and third innings. Noah Hartwell and Dorta both escaped two-on, two-out situations. The leadoff hitter reached base in both of Welch's innings but he struck out three to prevent rallies.

The ninth inning was especially sweet for Wilson. The last time he pitched against Shepherd, he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament that kept him out of action for two full seasons. Protecting a two-run lead, Wilson squared off against spots 9-1-2 in the Rams' lineup. He struck out Trenton Burgreen and then got .400 hitter Jared Carr to fly out to center. Brenton Doyle, the center fielder who professional scouts had filled the Cooper Park stands to see in action, was the Rams' last hope, and Wilson struck him out on three pitches.

"I am so proud of [Wilson]," said Shehan. "He has worked so hard to get this opportunity. It has been two years. There was a little extra meaning there for him today facing Shepherd. He's better now than he was before he got hurt. His fastball is up to 89 right now, and that's a testament to his work ethic and willingness to change his arm angle."

All three of Millersville's runs came in the first and all three were unearned. A ground ball off the bat of Ben Snyder looked like an inning-ending double play, but Burgreen's glove flip to second base went wide, and the sliding Kaylor Kulina was safe. Kulina moved to third on a fielder's choice and scored on a passed ball. After Luke Trainer drew a walk, Eric Callahan ripped a double off the warning track in center, clearing the bases.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Shepherd starter Eric O'Brien (2-1) logged six innings, striking out five and walking two while scattering seven hits. Mike Collins provided two innings of shutout relief work.
• Kris Pirozzi struck out two batters, pitching the second inning.
• Callahan paced the Millersville lineup with two doubles. Kulina and Jimmy Losh had two singles each.

NOTES
• Millersville is now 5-2 against Shepherd at Cooper Park. Shepherd won the season's first meeting, 14-6.
• Since returning from injury on March 30, Wilson has struck out six in four scoreless innings. He has given up one hit and one walk.

QUOTABLE
• "[Today's win] was huge. it was a great crowd for a mid-week game. It was intense from inning one. The team was engaged. It is a lot of fun when you can play a mid-week game like that--especially with Shepherd coming into the conference next year. It was good to get a taste of what that is going to be like." - Jon Shehan

UP NEXT
• Millersville hosts East Stroudsburg (28-12, 14-6) for a doubleheader on Friday, April 26. First pitch is at 1 p.m.