LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – It took 10 innings and 153 pitches from
Alex Schaefer, but the Millersville Marauders outlasted the Lock Haven Bald Eagles 4-3 in game one to take the season series. Schaefer pitched all 10 frames and moved to second on Millersville's all-time list in wins with the victory. The second game went squarely in the favor of the hosts and the Marauders emerged with a split on the day.
GAME ONE:
Schaefer was excellent throughout. The only major blemish on her line was a fourth inning during which the Bald Eagles recorded four straight hits leading to two earned runs. In the senior's other nine innings of work she allowed only the extra-innings runner in the tenth inning to cross the plate. Schaefer finished the day with 153 pitches and seemed to get stronger as the game wore on; she did not allow a hit after the sixth inning.
The Marauder offense was held down for their first four at-bats before scoring in the fifth and the sixth. It was
Aleese Angelo who got the breakthrough hit with two outs in the fifth inning. She doubled over the center fielder's head and brought home Millersville's first run. Not only did it cut the deficit in half, but it also marked her fifty-fourth career two bagger, moving her past Heather Lutz for the top spot on the program's all-time list. The Marauders tied the game in their next chance at the plate courtesy of a bases-loaded walk.
Gabby D'Ottavio singled home Angelo in the top of the tenth for the next visitor score. It was her fourth time on base in the game. Another bases-loaded free pass, this time to
Taylor Campagna, secured the insurance run Millersville would need in the bottom of the frame. With three hits earlier in the contest, it was also Campagna's fourth time on the basepaths.
Schaefer's marathon performance marks the first time a Marauder's thrown 10 innings in a single game since Cassidy Pinchorski did in 2017. Pinchorski tossed 10 innings against West Virginia Wesleyan on March 11, 2017, in a game that ended 12-4 in favor of the opposition. It is fitting that Pinchorski was the last to do it, as Schaefer's win moved the senior into a second-place tie with her for second on Millersville's all-time list with 40.
GAME TWO:
The Bald Eagles wasted little time jumping out in front in game two. They scored two runs in the first and then three in the second to take a 5-0 lead. Millersville starting pitcher
Morgan Crutcher was the victim of all five runs but only one was earned.
Gabi Turner got the visitors on the scoreboard with a single in the top of the third but Lock Haven got that run back immediately afterwards.
Nicolina Pezzone was the next pitcher up after Crutcher and tossed most of the rest of the game. The Marauders scored twice more in the contest but eventually fell 8-3.
GAME NOTES
- After the split today and the sweep earlier this season, Millersville's all-time record against Lock Haven improves to 23-51.
- The Marauders' conference record remains at .500 with the split. Their 12-12 mark is still two games behind Kutztown for the fifth and final playoff spot in the PSAC East.
POSTGAME REACTION FROM HEAD COACH JEN PROBST
- On Schaefer's performance: "Alex was back in her groove. She's worked hard all year on her endurance and it showed today."
- On the hot bat of Campagna: "Taylor has been coming in clutch the last few games. I'm so proud of her resilience as she struggled early in the season. She pushed through, made adjustments, and worked hard and now it's paying off."
UP NEXT
- The Marauders return home to honor the graduating seniors on Senior Day against Shippensburg. That doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on April 20 but the ceremony will be prior to the beginning of game one.
