SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Millersville center fielder Chase Simmons hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh to lift his team to a 7-6 win over Shippensburg in game one of Sunday's doubleheader. He followed that with three hits in the Marauders' 8-6 game two victory.

The two road wins capped a three-game series sweep--the third of Shippensburg since 2018. Now 30-6, the 2023 Marauders are the second-fastest club in program history to reach 30 wins. Millersville has now swept four of its first five PSAC East series. 

"It's really hard to sweep anyone," said Millersville head coach Jon Shehan. "Today, our hitters picked up our arms a bit. The last few weeks it's been the opposite. We aren't accustomed to getting hit much, and Ship did a good job swinging the bat. Sweeping requires focus for 25 innings. It's not easy."

Millersville had allowed more than five runs in a game just four times before Sunday, and while Shippensburg's 12 runs were the most scored against Millersville in a doubleheader this season, the Marauder offense totaled 22 hits--seven in game one and 15 in game two. Jimmy Losh and Matthew Williams both had two hits in the opener with Williams hitting his team-leading seventh home run of the season. Thomas Caufield homered in game two, and he and Simmons both totaled three hits. 

GAME ONE
• A five-run Shippensburg fourth inning put the Marauders down two in the seven-inning game, but they got two back in the fifth as the Shippensburg bullpen struggled to find the strike zone. Four walks in five batters pushed one run home, and Bren Taylor was hit with the bases loaded, evening the score at 6-6. 
• Millersville's bullpen fared much better late, as Kris Pirozzi entered in the sixth and needed just three batters to end the inning. He sat down three of the four he faced in the sixth as well, keeping the score tied. With one out in the top of the seventh, Simmons hit the first pitch he saw over the left field wall. It was his second home run of the year and proved to be the game-winning run. 
• Shippensburg put one runner on with one out in the seventh, but Pirozzi preserved Millersville's win with a game-ending 4-6-3 double play. 
• Simmons scored two runs, adding two walks to his home run. Williams and Cole Houser both drove in two runs. Shippensburg knocked Ben Wilchacky out after three innings, but Pirozzi (2-0) tossed three shutout innings for his second win of the season. 
 

BOOM! Chase Simmons Marauder 💣 gives 'Ville the lead! pic.twitter.com/WNjzc8VDyo

— Millersville Marauders (@VilleMarauders) April 16, 2023

GAME TWO
• Millersville needed no late-game heroics in game two as Bren Taylor, the second batter of the game, tripled in a run, and Caufield followed with a blast that landed on Shippensburg's football field, located beyond the right field fence. Taso Kovack and Simmons both doubled home runs in the third, building the Marauders' lead to 6-0. 
• Shippensburg scored five unanswered runs in the third through the sixth innings, pulling within one run on a Jaxson Dalena sacrifice fly. But Kovack, making his first start of the season, singled in a run in the seventh. Tyler Wright added some additional breathing room with a sacrifice fly that drove in Houser. 
• For the second game in a row, Millersville's starter last just three innings. Colby Gromlich took over for Alex Mykut and tossed three, striking out six. Nate Young pitched a scoreless seventh. Harry Prince did not allow a hit, but did surrender one run in 1 1/3 innings, and Rece Ritchy recorded the final two outs for his first save as a Marauder. 
• Simmons tallied three hits in a game for the first time since March 6, 2022. Caufield's homer was his third of the season and first in 17 games. 
 

When you hit it that far, go ahead and admire your handiwork. pic.twitter.com/Bv7EAdpzWa

— Millersville Marauders (@VilleMarauders) April 16, 2023

POST GAME REACTION FROM COACH SHEHAN
• On Simmons' performance: "Simmons made a quick adjustment before the game, and it paid off. He's been outstanding all year."
• On the depth of the team: "I was really proud of the guys today. We had a couple guys grind it out banged up today. Taso was the latest guy to come off the bench and have a huge game. He's been patiently waiting for a shot, and he took advantage of it."

UP NEXT
• Millersville plays a road non-conference game Tuesday against Wilmington.