Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Millersville University baseball team bounced back from a game one loss to earn a split with West Chester to begin the four-game PSAC East weekend series.
 
The Golden Rams used two home runs and a complete game from starting pitcher Braeden Fausnaught to secure the 4-2 game one victory, but Justin Taylor brought the Marauders' offense to life in game two with a two-run blast to right field in the fourth inning to spark the comeback after trailing by four. The Ville launched three more homers (from Jimmy Losh, Luke Trainer, and a second from Taylor) to win the game 12-4.
 
Millersville managed eight hits to West Chester's nine in game one but could not stack them together and was denied the big inning. The Marauders did open up a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth but the Golden Rams responded with five runs of their own in the bottom half to take control.
 
In game two, a pair of Millersville pitchers were key in settling things down out of the bullpen. Jacob Paulishak entered the game for Andrew Mayhew in the first inning and went three-and-a-third innings, allowing one hit, one run, and striking out five. Christian Wingard relieved Paulishak in the fifth and pitched an additional three innings of scoreless baseball.
 
Friday's games were Millersville's fourth and fifth of the week, with two more versus West Chester on deck for Saturday afternoon back in the friendly confines of Cooper Park.

GAME ONE (West Chester 6, Millersville 2)
•Millersville broke open a scoreless game in the top of the fourth inning, leading off the frame with back-to-back doubles from Bren Taylor and Luke Trainer. Trainer's drove in the first run of the game and he came in to score after back-to-back singles from Cole Friese and Eric Callahan. West Chester starter Braeden Fausnaught recovered and struck out the next three batters to keep it a 2-0 game.
•The Golden Rams responded with five runs in the bottom of the fourth thanks to five singles off Millersville's Kris Pirozzi to take the lead. They added a run in the sixth with a Keith Flaherty solo homer to right field that Bren Taylor almost caught at the fence to win the game 6-2.

GAME TWO (Millersville 12, West Chester 4)
•West Chester's bats stayed hot to begin game two, with Mike Ferrera connecting on a three-run shot in the bottom of the first and Keith Flaherty launching his second homer of the day in the second inning for a 4-0 lead.
•Justin Taylor brought Millersville's offense to life in the top of the fourth with a two-out, two-run homer to right field with Cole Friese on base to cut the Golden Rams' lead in half.
•The Marauders' comeback effort continued in the top of the fifth inning that began with Tyler Wright singling and advancing to third base after a wild pitch and a Jimmy Losh groundout. Bren Taylor walked and stole second to put two runners in scoring position for Luke Trainer and he delivered with a knock down the right field line to bring home both runners and tie the game at four runs apiece.
•Balls continued to fly out of the ballpark in the top of the sixth inning. Justin Taylor smashed his second of the day to lead it off and finally give the Ville the lead, 5-4. With two outs and Nick Mancuso on base, Jimmy Losh stepped in and took the first pitch he saw over the fence in right field, a no-doubter to push the Millersville advantage to 7-4. Luke Trainer added a solo shot in the top of the seventh that was part of a five-run half inning to put the game out of reach for West Chester.
•Christian Wingard slammed the door with authority out of the bullpen, striking out five of the first six batters he faced and added yet another strikeout to end the game cap off his pristine three innings of work.
 
REACTION FROM ASSISTANT COACH DAVID BAKER
• On today's games: "We had that one bad inning in game one that hurt us but we played well in game two. Paulishak came in and threw really well to keep us in the game. We hit well situationally, battled back, and hit four bombs that gave us the lead and turned the game around."
• On Christian Wingard's string of good performances: "Wingard came in today and did what he's been doing the last couple of weeks. When we have a big situation, we know who we're going to--it's him right away. He throws a ton of strikes and lets his defense help him out. He attacks the zone and pitches with a chip on his shoulder."
• On Justin Taylor's up-and-down spring: "Coming into the season he won a job but got off to a little bit of a slow start. The last couple games, he's been really swinging it, and we have to keep his bat in the lineup right now. He also made some really good picks at first base today to help us defensively."
• Looking at tomorrow's doubleheader with West Chester: "Every conference game is big. Our motto since Coach Shehan has been here is "one pitch at a time." Anytime you play a rival in the PSAC it's huge but we'll take it pitch-by-pitch. We've got Jeff (Taylor) and Paul (Wilson) going tomorrow, we've got some arms back, so we're ready to go."

NOTES
• Jimmy Losh's home run in game two was his team-leading fifth of the season and fourth since April 10. He also hit a home run in a suspended game versus Shepherd on April 12 that is not yet an official statistic.
• Millersville's four home runs in game two are the most the team has hit in a single game all season. They had previously hit three home runs on three separate occasions (March 12 vs. Chestnut Hill, March 26 at East Stroudsburg, and April 10 versus Shepherd.)
• Justin Taylor is in a groove at the plate. Since the back half of the doubleheader with Shepherd on April 10, he has gone 9-for-17 with four home runs, eight RBIs, and seven runs scored while raising his season average to .429.
 
UP NEXT
• The series shifts to Cooper Park for games three and four against West Chester on Saturday, April 17 beginning at 12 p.m.