BLOOMFIELD, N.J. - Faith Willenbrock and the Millersville Marauders continued the trend of hammering opponents with home runs by launching six total in Saturday's doubleheader sweep of Bloomfield. Willenbrock hit two and
Aleese Angelo added one in the 5-3 game one victory. In game two, Willenbrock, Angelo and
Gabi Turner each hit one for an 11-5 victory.
Millersville (6-2) has now hit 20 home runs in eight games, and Willenbrock has hit eight. Millersville pushed its winning streak to four games with the sweep and is off to its best start since 2018 when it also opened 6-2. The games were the first of the season for Bloomfield.
GAME ONE (MILLERSVILLE 5, BLOOMFIELD 3)
• Willenbrock went 3-for-3 and drove in three runs with her two home runs and a double, and she put Millersville on the board with a solo home run in the second. Millersville's starting pitcher
Alex Schaefer (2-1) kept Bloomfield scoreless until the fourth, but the 1-1 tie lasted only a half-inning. Willenbrock's ground-rule double plated Angelo. Then, in the top of the seventh, Angelo hit a two-run homer and Willenbrock followed with another solo shot--Millersville's fifth back-to-back home runs of the season.
• Bloomfield pushed two across in the seventh, but Schaefer cut short the attempted comeback. She threw a career-high seven innings for her first career complete game. She also struck out a career-high eight batters.
GAME TWO (MILLERSVILLE 11, BLOOMFIELD 5)
• Millersville rallied from a 4-0 deficit by erupting for five runs in the third and four more in the fourth. Millersville totaled 13 hits, with freshman
Taylor Campagna leading the way with a 3-for-5 performance. Millersville's trio of home run hitters--Willenbrock, Angelo and Turner--combined for eight RBIs.
• Bloomfield struck for four runs in the bottom of the first inning, using four singles and a Millersville miscue. Freshman pitcher
Morgan Crutcher (3-1) entered with two outs and quickly steadied the ship. She went on to pitch the following 6 1/3 innings, striking out eight while allowing just five hits and a run.
• Trailing 4-0 in the third, rookie
Taylor Lenker led off with a single, starting a string of five consecutive Marauder hits that culminated in Willenbrock's three-run home run. Angelo had an RBI single in the inning, and Campagna gave Millersville the lead on an RBI single.
• Angelo and Turner provided Millersville with some breathing room in the fourth as they both smacked two-run home runs.
Hunter Little tacked on two more runs with a double in the seventh.
REACTION FROM COACH JEN PROBST
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On the immediate impact of Angelo: "It's Aleese's birthday! Aleese works really hard, but it's her positive mindset that allows her to elevate her game, rebound from failure and be a great teammate. After her second homer we sang 'Happy Birthday' as she came around the bases. It was a great moment."
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On the progress of Schaefer and Crutcher: "After the Kutztown series we talked as a pitching staff about not having the luxury of pitching like rookies as we don't have a ton of experience in the circle. All of our pitchers spent time perfecting spins and raising their mental game. Morgan and Alex were up for the challenge today and did a great job."
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On the key to the team's power: "This team hits with so much power because they are coachable and the buy-in is throughout. Also, their weight room culture is incredible. Bright and early, they are getting after it hyping each other up all while our strength coaches are providing great workouts."
NOTES
• Millersville has scored double-digit runs three times in eight games, and has hit two or more home runs in seven of eight.
• Crutcher's 6 1/3 innings were in game two were a career-high. She has allowed just one run over her last 10 1/3 innings pitched.
UP NEXT
• The scheduled doubleheader between Millersville and Jefferson on Sunday, March 14 has been postponed.
