Marauders rally in game one, set records in game two for sweep of Chowan

Saturday, February 11

Millersville, PA

11:00 AM

Millersville University

4-1

Chowan

0-5

Chowan

Millersville

Marauders rally in game one, set records in game two for sweep of Chowan

2/11/2023 4:38:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Ethan Hulsey, Director of Athletic Communications

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Millersville scored three runs in the sixth inning to pull off a 3-2 come-from-behind win in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader against Chowan. All of that late-game momentum carried into game two as the Marauders scored early and often for a record-setting 23-1 rout of the visiting Hawks.

The 5-1 Marauders turned in an epic offensive performance in the nightcap with 23 runs and 24 hits setting records in both categories in the 16-year history of Cooper Park. Bren Taylor and John Seibert led the outburst as both went 5-for-5 and reached base in all six plate appearances. Cole Houser went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, and Sam Morris went 3-for-6 with two RBIs. Garrett Lowe and Taso Kovack both hit three-run home runs off the bench.

"We've faced some good arms early this season and we couldn't put our approach together the way we wanted to," said Millersville head coach Jon Shehan. "It was frustrating to sit back and watch that for the first five games, so it was good to see everyone come out and do a good job today."

GAME ONE
In game one, Millersville starter Ben Wilchacky (1-0) tossed six innings, striking out five while allowing five hits and one walk. But when he threw his last pitch in the top of the sixth, his Marauders trailed 2-0. Chowan's Nicky Wohleking kept the Marauders in check until the sixth when Cole Houser started the comeback with a one-out double. It looked like a home run to left-center at the wall but popped back into play. Thomas Caufield then hit a laser down the right field line that was a sure triple, but the ball rolled under a gate in foul territory, stopping him at second base with a ground rule double. But the bad-luck bounces wouldn't last. Matthew Williams belted a single to center, bringing home the tying run, and Keegan Soltis roped a double into the left-center field gap, bringing Williams around from first base.

Nate Young entered in relief in the bottom of the seventh, and while the tying run reached third base, Young ended the Chowan threat with a fly out.

"It's good to see us not play well but not allow it to ruin the whole day," said Shehan. "They continue to play one pitch at a time. Even if they have a bad at bat they come back and make an adjustment. It says a lot about this group. It's a veteran group, and we have a lot of leadership from a position player aspect. They know how to win games."

GAME TWO
Millersville wasted no time getting started in game two, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first. Millersville went on to score in seven of its eight innings, leading 9-1 after two innings and 18-1 after four.

Taylor and Seibert both set career-highs with five hits. Nine Marauders had at least one hit. Eleven Marauders scored at least one run and nine scored two or more including Taylor, who crossed home plate four times.

As good as the lineup was, the pitching was also as sharp. Carson Kulina fanned eight over four innings. All six relievers put up zeroes in their appearances and not one pitcher issued a walk while totaling 14 strikeouts.

"Our goal from a recruiting aspect going back to years ago was to add depth and strike throwers," said Shehan. "I give Ryan Kramer and David Baker a lot of credit for recruiting and developing the arms. These guys have gone out, been aggressive, filled it up and let the defense take care of it. These guys just attack, and that's going to be important down the stretch. It's not just guys one through five, it's one through 10 right now."

UP NEXT
• Millersville travels to Morehead City, N.C., for three games from Feb. 16-18. The opponents scheduled are Fellician, Assumption and Molloy.