MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The Millersville University softball team (19-19, 7-3 PSAC) battled against the top pitching staff in the PSAC, coming away with a split against the East Stroudsburg Warriors on Friday afternoon.
 
Millersville was shutout in game one by a final of 7-0 before returning the favor in game two with a 2-0 win.

Despite the split, the Marauders managed to maintain a share of first place in the PSAC East with Kutztown, who split their doubleheader against Shepherd. The Golden Bears head to Seaber Stadium tomorrow for a clash between the top two teams in the East.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE: ESU 7 – Millersville 0

• Two runs in the second was the Warriors would need. ESU rode a complete game performance from Katie Zaun to the win. The Warriors tacked on a run in the fourth, three in the sixth, and one in the seventh.
• Millersville recorded just two hits in the loss while striking out 11 times.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Alex Schaefer fell to 9-6 after allowing six runs over 5 2/3 innings of work.
• Alexis Harkins and Breanna Clayton recorded the lone Millersville hits.
• The Marauders were shut out for the seventh time this season. 

GAME TWO: Millersville 2 – ESU 0

• To beat the Warriors, who had a sub 1.75 team ERA coming into play, would require a big performance from a Marauder pitcher to keep the game close, and that's exactly what Morgan Crutcher provided for 'Ville. Crutcher spun a gem on the mound, throwing her seventh complete game of the season while notching her first shutout. She picked up four strikeouts while allowing just two hits, tossing 89 pitches in the circle in an efficient game.
• Despite making two errors, the Marauder defense was a key component in the win, with excellent defensive stops from second baseman Sam Fried and Harkins at third. With the bases loaded in the third, Harkins plucked a hot shot headed down the third base line and recorded the unassisted force-out to retire the side, keeping the game scoreless. The Marauders would take the lead the following inning.
• Millersville scored its first run of the day in the fourth on an infield single by Kendra Bumgardner, plating pinch runner Bryn Spoerl who scored all the way from second.
• The Marauders added an insurance run in the sixth on back-to-back opposite field doubles from Bumgardner and Marli Schreiner.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Crutcher improved to 8-8 in the circle. Her 89 pitches were the second fewest of her seven complete games.
• This was only the second shutout of the season for the Marauders, with the first coming during opening weekend on Feb. 26 in an 8-0 win against Converse.
• Bumgardner went a season best 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored.
• Hunter Little and Schreiner had the only other Marauder hits.

REACTION FROM HEAD COACH JEN PROBST:
On Crutcher's performance in game two: "Morgan has pitched some great games recently but took losses when we couldn't find a way to score. It was a great defensive effort today all around and Morgan's pitching gave us an opportunity to make a lot of routine plays."
On the perseverance of the offense: "We didn't let strikeouts phase us and just kept taking our swing at pitches in zone. The dugout kept the energy up and were key in us stay present regardless of previous at bats."
 
UP NEXT
The Marauders take on Kutztown on Saturday for a PSAC East doubleheader from Seaber Stadium in a battle for first place in the east. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.