MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The Millersville University baseball team swept a pair of games from East Stroudsburg on Friday afternoon, 5-1 and 9-5. The series features the No. 3 ranked Marauders vs. the No. 4 ranked Warriors according to this week's latest NCBWA Atlantic Region Poll.
 
The Ville lineup displayed plenty of power in game one, with Cole Friese leading off the game with a solo shot (his second of the season.) Darin Miller added a long ball in the second inning (his team-high third of 2021) and Nick Mancuso smashed one to center field in the fourth to make it a 3-1 game and put the Marauders firmly in control.
 
Alex Mykut once again impressed on the mound, picking up his fourth win in as many starts and went all seven innings for the second straight outing, giving up just one earned run and striking out six.
 
Game two was another battle but the Marauders got on the scoreboard right away in the top of the first thanks to a Luke Trainer RBI single that scored Friese. Bren Taylor broke open the game in the top of the second with a two-run double to make it 3-1, while RBIs from Darin Miller and Cole Houser in the third helped push the lead to 6-2. Mancuso connected on his second home run of the day and Bren Taylor added another RBI double in the fifth inning to make it nine total runs for the Ville.
 
Starter Paul Wilson (4.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 strikeouts) earned his second win of the spring while relievers Ben Wilchacky and Bob Dorta (who pitched a perfect two innings out to end the game) made sure the victory was secure.

 
GAME ONE (MILLERSVILLE 5, LOCK HAVEN 1)
• After the trio of Millersville home runs (from Cole Friese, Darin Miller, and Nick Mancuso) to build a 3-1 lead, the team added more insurance in the fourth. Tyler Wright singled right after Mancuso homered, then Friese was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Wright was thrown out at third on a double steal attempt but Bren Taylor came through with a single on an 0-2 pitch to bring home Friese to make it a 4-1 game.
• The Marauders' fifth run of the game came in the seventh, after Bren Taylor drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a Luke Trainer single. Eric Callahan walked to load the bases, then Jimmy Losh worked another free pass to earn an RBI and bring home Taylor.

GAME TWO (MILLERSVILLE 9, LOCK HAVEN 5)
• Millersville got to East Stroudsburg starter Cam Voss (who had entered the game with a 1.20 ERA) right away in the first inning. Friese led off the game with a walk and advanced to second after Losh singled on a 1-1 pitch. Luke Trainer stepped in and roped another single to plate Friese for the early lead.
• The Marauders' offense struck again in the second. Mancuso led off the frame with a single and Cole Houser walked to put two men on. Friese reached base on a fielder's choice and with runners on the corners, Bren Taylor came through again with a two-run double to make it a 3-1 game.
• Eric Callahan added an RBI single in the fourth inning, and along with Mancuso's second home run of the afternoon and another Taylor RBI double (both in the fifth inning), Millersville built a 9-4 lead.
• East Stroudsburg also struck in the fifth inning thanks to three straight singles off reliever Ben Wilchacky, but 9-5 was as close as the Warriors would come. Bob Dorta came in from the pen in the sixth and slammed the door with three flyouts and three groundouts through two innings of work to secure the Friday afternoon sweep.
 
REACTION FROM COACH JON SHEHAN
• "We won both games as a team today. Mykut did an outstanding job in game one going the distance. In game two, Paul started out working behind a few hitters but found a way to make pitches and get through four innings. We swung the bats really well today. It wasn't just the top of the order. I think what makes this team tough is the fact that we have guys who can swing it throughout the order and even with a couple quality guys off the bench. Mancuso was the guy today in the eight hole. Conditions were tough with the wind today and I was proud of our guys playing the game a pitch at a time. Game two wasn't clean by any means but we battled."

NOTES
• Cole Friese's home run today gives him 21 in his career, which ties him on the all-time list with Matt Unger and Chad Gunzenhauser for fifth-most in program history.
• The Marauders are now 20-6 against the East Stroudsburg Warriors in the regular season dating back to 2014.
• Bren Taylor (.486 average) and Luke Trainer (.500) are now tied for the team lead in total hits, with 18 each. Trainer has knocked in 14 RBIs and scored nine runs while Taylor has 13 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
• In just 71 career at-bats, Darin Miller has five career home runs (two in 2020 and three thusfar in 2021).

UP NEXT
• The action returns to Cooper Park for a second doubleheader with East Stroudsburg on Saturday, March 27. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.