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Millersville

Wilchacky
1
Mansfield MANS-B 5-6, 0 PSAC East
3
Winner Millersville MILL-B 16-4, 0 PSAC East
Mansfield MANS-B
5-6, 0 PSAC East
1
Final
3
Millersville MILL-B
16-4, 0 PSAC East
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Mansfield MANS-B 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 2
Millersville MILL-B 0 0 0 0 0 3 X 3 4 1

W: Wilchacky, Ben (4-1) L: A. Lewis (2-1) S: Pirozzi, Kris (1)

1
Mansfield MANS-B 5-8, 0-2 PSAC East
8
Winner Millersville MILL-B 18-4, 2-0 PSAC East
Mansfield MANS-B
5-8, 0-2 PSAC East
1
Final
8
Millersville MILL-B
18-4, 2-0 PSAC East
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Mansfield MANS-B 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 1
Millersville MILL-B 0 2 0 0 5 1 0 0 X 8 14 0

W: Kulina, Carson (5-0) L: E. Gustofson (0-3)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Ethan Hulsey, Director of Athletic Communications

Wilchacky, Mykut, Kulina shine in sweep of Mansfield

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – Ben Wilchacky took a no-hitter into the final inning in game one, and Alex Mykut and Carson Kulina surrendered just three hits over nine innings in game two as Millersville opened PSAC East play with a sweep of Mansfield by scores of 3-1 and 8-1. 

Over the course of 16 innings, the trio of Marauders allowed just five hits while striking out 15. The wins improved Millersville to 10-0 at home, 18-4 overall, and 2-0 in PSAC East play. 

Wilchacky (4-1) pitched a stellar 6 2/3 in game one and came within two outs of the seventh no-hitter in Millersville history. He faced two over the minimum through six innings. 

"Honestly, he wasn't that sharp, especially early," said Millersville head coach Jon Shehan. "He got into a lot of 2-2, 3-2 counts and made some quality pitches late in the count to win those at-bats. It was one of those gutsy performances where he found a way to miss some barrels. He did a good job."

The opening game of the series postponement then allowed the Millersville coaching staff to stack Mykut and Kulina, who would have been the game two and game three starters. Mykut gave up a double to the first hitter he faced and then retired 14 in a row before exiting after 75 pitches with a runner on first and two outs into the fifth. Kulina (5-0) followed with 4 1/3 shutout innings. Mykut struck out six while Kulina fanned four. Both pitchers walked just one batter. 

"Especially with the way Mykut is throwing the ball, being able to pitch those two back-to-back is a positive," said Shehan. "It's actually more detrimental to our bullpen, which has been really, really good, to not get a weekend with quality work. We'll have to find a way to keep those guys sharp."
  While Wilchacky (4-1) was outstanding, Mansfield's Austin Lewis (2-1) flummoxed the Marauders early as well as both pitchers carried no-hitters into the sixth inning of the seven-inning opener. Jimmy Losh broke up Lewis' no-hit bid with a leadoff double in the sixth and came home on Sam Morris' two-run RBI, which ruined Lewis' hopes for a shutout. The Marauders totaled just four hits and drew one walk, but they took advantage of the few base-running opportunities. After he drove in two with a double, Morris swiped third base and came home on Matthew Williams' ground out. 

That insurance run proved key. Wilchacky retired the first batter of the seventh on one pitch, but Zach Shertzer ended the no-hitter by slapping a single between third base and shortstop. Wilchacky plunked the next batter, putting the tying run at the plate. Shehan went to the mound with the intention of replacing Wilchacky, but the senior made a case to stay in the game. But with two outs, left-handed pinch hitter Josh Farina hit a high fly down the right field line that Morris could not track down. One run scored and suddenly, the go-ahead run was at the plate. 

"I told him every start gets one chance to do that," laughed Shehan. "His chance is done. I'm sticking with my gut next time. We had Nate Young ready to go to face three of four left-handers, and he's been dominant against lefties. I should have stuck to my guns and put him in after the base hit."

Instead, Shehan went to right-hander Kris Pirozzi. Pirozzi promptly struck out Zach Spray for the final out. 

Millersville's bats awoke in game two. Keegan Soltis went 3-for-3 with a double, walk and two runs scored. Morris went 3-for-5 with a double and a run. Bren Taylor had a double and a single. Losh recorded the 11th triple of his career, pulling him into a four-way tie with Taylor, Dan Neff '16 and Chas McCormick '17 for Millersville's career record. Thomas Caufield also reached base four times with a single and three walks.

Trailing 1-0 in the second, Millersville started its scoring with Caufield's RBI single and an RBI double from John Seibert. Millersville's hitters stayed patient at the plate and scored five runs in the fifth on five hits and a pair of walks.  Of Millersville's first six hits, three were doubles, and four of the hits came on full-count pitches. 

"Everyone has bought into that," said Shehan. "We've talked about competing in the box and two-strike hitting. It's a mentality. Soltis has done a really good job. (Chase) Simmons has put some great at-bats together, working deep counts, not chasing. We have a great thing going with two strikes right now."

Millersville finished the game with 14 hits. 

The Marauders have won six in a row and 16 of the last 18 over Mansfield. 

UP NEXT
Millersville continues PSAC East play on Friday, March 17 with a home game against Kutztown. 
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