WILMINGTON, Del. - Millersville jumped out to an early 4-1 lead, but starting in the fourth inning, the homestanding Wilmington Wildcats scored nine runs in the next four innings and pulled away for a 10-6 win in a game that featured 18 pitchers.
The Wildcats (34-16), ranked fifth in the first NCAA East Regional rankings, have now won 15 of their last 18 and six in a row, totaling double-digit runs in four of those six wins. Millersville, which was voted No. 6 in the latest NCBWA Division II poll and No. 17 in the most recent Collegiate Baseball poll, dropped to 34-11.
Wilmington had 10 pitchers toe the rubber while Millersville used eight, and the difference came in innings five through eight as Wilmington's four relievers in that span did not give up a single hit. Each of Millersville's first seven pitchers gave up at least one run.
"We've played better games," said Millersville head coach
Jon Shehan. "We've pitched better, swung the bats better and played better defense than we did today."
Wilmington's comeback began in the bottom of the fourth when Dan Hyatt doubled in two runs. Millersville's 4-3 lead was wiped out with one swing of the bat in the fifth. The Marauders put two on with free passes, and with two outs, Luke Johnson hit a three-run homer to left. Wilmington added three more in the sixth on four hits and tacked on one in the seventh for good measure, building the lead to 10-4.
"We faced a good team and didn't pitch very well," said Shehan. "We gave up some free passes in front of home runs. We did not handle their offense very well. Today, you want to see guys win jobs for the regional. We have to make some tough roster decisions soon. We played against a tough offense, but we are looking for guys who have the guts to go out and compete and win those jobs."
Wilmington out-hit the Marauders 13-8. Six of the Marauders' hits came in the first four innings. Wilmington hit 6-for-13 with two outs and 5-for-9 with runners in scoring position while Millersville was 2-for-12 with two outs and 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Snyder reached base four times with two hits and two walks. He drove in a run in the first and ninth innings. Friese went 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
• Millersville starter
Andrew Mayhew pitched two innings, giving up a solo home run in the first.
•
Matt Stevenson pitched a shutout ninth inning.
NOTES
• Millersville is 31-6 since starting the season 3-4. Two of those losses have come in mid-week non-conference games against teams with more than 30 wins (Shepherd and Wilmington).
• Millersville has allowed double-digit runs just four times this season.
UP NEXT
• Millersville closes the regular season with a four-game series against Lock Haven starting on Friday, May 3 at Cooper Park. Millersville can clinch the PSAC East title with two wins or two Bloomsburg losses.
