MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Ben Wilchacky pitched six strong innings while the Millersville lineup built an early lead, and
Nate Young and
Kris Pirozzi combined to hold off visiting Bluefield State 6-4 Saturday at Cooper Park.
Wilchacky (6-0) won for the sixth time in as many starts, holding the Big Blue scoreless into the sixth and finishing with seven strikeouts and three runs allowed on eight hits in six innings. Pirozzi entered with the tying run on deck and no outs in the eighth and retired six of the next seven batters to nail down his fourth save of the season.
Bren Taylor and
Tyler Wright led the Marauders with two hits apiece.
Jimmy Losh and
Cole Houser both drove in two runs, and it was Houser's two-run single in the second that put the Marauders in front.
Millersville (14-5) extended its winning streak to five, winning for the ninth time in the last 10 games.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
• Bluefield State threatened in the top of the first inning with a pair of one-out singles, but Wilchacky settled and retired the next eight Bluefield State batters.
Keegan Soltis started Millersville's half of the second inning with a walk,
Chase Simmons doubled to put two in scoring position, and Houser laced a single between third base and shortstop, bringing both runners home. A
Sam Morris single kept the inning rolling, and
Tyler Wright followed with a single to center, scoring Houser from second.
Luke Trainer plated
Thomas Caufield with a sacrifice fly in the third, and in the fourth, Morris walked, Wright was hit by a pitch, and after a wild pitch, Losh singled in the pair for a 6-0 Millersville lead.
• Bluefield State went to reliever Seth Hedgepeth, who shutdown the Marauders over the final five innings, allowing just three hits. Bluefield State rallied with three runs off Wilchacky in the sixth. Young struck out the side for Millersville in the seventh, but Bluefield State started the eighth with a walk and a double. Millersville called Pirozzi from the bullpen, and after a fly out to center scored one, Pirozzi finished the game by retiring six of the seven batters he faced, giving up only a leadoff double in the ninth.
REACTION FROM HEAD COACH JON SHEHAN
• On Wilchacky's success: "He mixes through pitches, and his ball moves a ton. What you are really seeing is a converted position player who is in year three now, and he understands that he is good. The self-awareness he has that his stuff is really, really good and he can go out and miss in the middle of the plate, and not be perfect and still be successful, has been a big confidence boost for him.
• On Pirozzi in save situations: "The first outing or two he was doing more than he needed to. Now, he's trusting in his stuff. He's got some really good stuff. He's going out and being himself now."
• On Houser at the plate: "He's getting healthy, and he and Ben have worked really well together. He handles the ball down well which helps Ben with his sinker. Anytime you can get your defensive catcher to come in and get a couple hits and drive some runs in, it is a big bonus."
NOTES
• Millersville is now 3-0 all-time against Bluefield State. Saturday was the first meeting between the programs since 1993.
• Wilchacky is the first Marauder since Neil Wiker in 1986 to win six consecutive starts to start a season.
UP NEXT
• Millersville hosts Bluefield State for a doubleheader Sunday, March 19 starting at 10 a.m.
