FROSTBURG, Md. - It took one time through the lineup for the Millersville Marauders to really start rolling and then there was no stopping them. Millersville scored 20 runs in the final six innings for a 21-4 win over Frostburg State.
Millersville (27-6) scored more than 20 runs for the second time this season and did so on 18 hits and seven walks. The offensive eruption that included at least three hits from each of the top four hitters in the lineup, was welcomed after the Marauders had averaged just 2.6 runs over the previous five games. Frostburg State (18-14) entered the game having won seven of its previous eight, allowing more than four runs just twice in that stretch.
"It's easy when you have a bad weekend to give up, get selfish, and start focusing on outcomes rather than the process," said Millersville head coach
Jon Shehan. "Today showed what kind of team we are--relentless. I was really proud of how we responded today against a good team."
Bren Taylor led the Marauders with a 4-for-7 performance, scoring four runs and driving in three.
Jimmy Losh drove in a career-high five runs and reached base five times. He recorded three hits and was hit by a pitch twice. Losh swiped two bases and scored twice. No. 3 hitter
Thomas Caufield went 3-for-6 with a walk, three RBIs and three runs.
Keegan Soltis hit a home run as well.
An especially bright spot for the Marauders was clean-up hitter
Sam Morris breaking out of an 0-for-17 slump with an RBI single that put the Marauders on the board in the top of the first. He finished with three hits, two RBIs and two runs.
Matthew Williams, who had gone 1-for-14 over his last five games, doubled, finished with two hits, two runs and two RBIs.
"Morris, Williams, and a few others put some serious time in the past couple days diving into their approaches and swings and made some key adjustments," said Shehan. "It's always great seeing kids fail, learn, and improve. That's what it's all about."
Millersville started to gain separation in the fourth when
Chase Simmons and Losh drove in runs with back-to-back singles. The Marauders scored three more in the fifth, one in the sixth, four in the seventh, three in the eighth and six in the ninth. Losh, Taylor, Caufield and Morris all had RBI hits in the final inning.
While the Marauder bats needed time to heat up, starting pitcher
Garet Blankenbiller was stellar from the start. He struck out two in the first inning and fanned nine over five innings. He pitched into the sixth and finished with three runs allowed.
"Blank was very good early on the mound," said Shehan. "He set the tone."
Tuesday's game was just the second-ever meeting between the programs, and it was Millersville's first trip to Frostburg State.
UP NEXT
• Millersville is back at Cooper Park on Friday, April 14 for a PSAC East game against Shippensburg.
