WEST CHESTER, Pa. - Luke Trainer's two-out, two-run double in the top of the seventh put the Millersville Marauders in front of West Chester by a run, but in the bottom of the inning, the Golden Rams topped Millersville's three run frame with four, retaking the lead and then holding off the Marauders in the ninth for a 7-6 win to start the PSAC East series.
Millersville (31-9, 13-3 PSAC East) very nearly pulled off another rally in the ninth, getting four doubles in the inning, but the potential game-tying run was cut down at the plate when the runner lost his footing on the way to plate. West Chester (22-9, 10-6 PSAC East) received a pair of hits and three RBIs from Mike Ferrara and two hits and two RBIs from Justin Horn. It was Horn's two-run single that put his team back into the lead, and Ferrara, who gave the Golden Rams some extra cushion with a two-run single. Millersville's (31-9, 13-3 PSAC East) winning streak came to an end at nine despite a furious rally that came up just short in the ninth. Trainer went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs.
Thomas Caufield had two doubles and a single, and
Jimmy Losh contributed two hits and two runs.
Chase Simmons reached base three times with a single and two walks.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
• After manufacturing a pair of runs in the top of the first, West Chester dialed up a double steal for a run in the third. With Horn on third, Ferrara was caught in a 2-6-3 rundown, but Horn sneaked home for a 3-1 West Chester lead. The score remained unchanged until the seventh when Simmons and
Tyler Wright hit back-to-back singles to get the Marauders' inning started. A
Cole Houser fielder's choice brought home one, and Losh kept the lineup moving with a single to left. Then, with two outs, Trainer roped a double into left center than brought home Houser and Losh and gave the Marauders a 4-3 lead.
• That lead did not last long, however. A walk and hit batsman followed by a sacrifice bunt put two in scoring position. The Marauders intentionally walked leadoff hitter Zack Wright to load the bases and set up a potential double play. Millersville reliever
Sam Morris fanned Joe Kaleck for the second out, but Horn and Ferrara delivered for the Golden Rams with their consecutive hits.
• In the ninth, Losh led off with a double, and Trainer roped a 3-1 pitch to right-center for his second double of the game, bringing Millersville to within two. The next batter,
Keegan Soltis, also doubled on a 3-1 count, closing the gap to one run and putting the tying run 180 feet away with one out. Caufield then hit a drive off the base of the right-center field wall. Soltis, tagging at second, broke when the ball hit the wall just beyond the reach of the right fielder. But rounding third, Soltis slipped and went to the turf. He scrambled to his feet and made a dive for the plate, but the Kaleck-Miles-John DeMucci relay beat Soltis just in time. Millersville still had the tying run at third base by Kyle Lazer notched a two-inning save with his third strikeout.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Millersville starter
Conor Cook struck out a season-high nine while working around six hits and two walks. He did not allow a run over his final three innings and exited with 1063pitches thrown. Cook has now worked six or more innings in three-straight starts.
• Millersville's six doubles came within one of its season high. Trainer moved into a tie for seventh in career doubles with fellow catcher Mitch Stoltzfus (2014-17) and Mike Wokulich (1999-02).
• West Chester entered the game as the PSAC leader in stolen bases but managed just one steal against Houser and the Marauders and was nabbed stealing three times.
UP NEXT
• Saturday, April 23 is Alumni Day at Cooper Park. The day starts with the Marauder Baseball Cornhole Tournament and continues with a doubleheader against West Chester. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
