KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Yet another wild day of Millersville softball occurred in Kutztown on Tuesday afternoon. The Marauders went up big on the Golden Bears early in game one, but the hosts charged back over the final innings to claim a 10-8 victory. Millersville entered its last at-bat down 4-3 in game two but managed to scrape a run across to tie it before Aleese Angelo put her team in front for good with a home run.

GAME ONE:
Millersville was the first team to get on the scoreboard in this one, eventually reaching a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. Angelo started it off with a run-scoring single to go up 1-0 in the third. A walk to Gabi Turner put two runners on for the red-hot Gabby D'Ottavio, who launched her third home run of the season for a 4-0 Marauder advantage. Carly Vaughan led off the fourth inning with a triple and scored on an error to add one more to that total and Victoria Fuss clobbered a two-run shot later in the inning to reach that 7-0 total.
 
It was all Kutztown from then on out. Alex Schaefer started in the circle for the Marauders and held the opposition scoreless through three but ran into trouble in the fourth. The Golden Bears scored four runs in that frame and six in the sixth to claim the 10-8 victory.

GAME TWO:
Millersville would bounce back in game two. The big blow came off the bat of Turner, a three-run home run to put the Marauders up 3-1 in the top of the third. She brought home Kendra Bumgardner and Angelo, who each got on base with singles. That was part of two stellar games at the plate for the pair; they accounted for seven of the team's 11 hits in game two, including a four-for-four performance from Bumgardner. The junior's final hit of the day, a double, tied the game in the top of the seventh after Kutztown had claimed a 4-3 edge. Angelo was next to the plate and blasted a no-doubt home run to center field to retake the lead.
 
After using both Schaefer and Morgan Crutcher in game one, the visitors needed a strong start from sophomore Nicolina Pezzone. She delivered on that, allowing four runs over 5.2 innings of work. Angelina Saverase took over in the sixth and got the final out before closing out the victory in the bottom of the seventh. That final inning was not without suspense, however.  A double and a fielder's choice that didn't result in an out put two runners in scoring position with one away. Saverase got the next batter on a groundout but loaded the bases with a walk to the following hitter.  She closed out the game with a fielder's choice to get the lead runner and secure the 5-4 win.

GAME NOTES

• The Marauders still have a chance to make the PSAC playoffs because of how the schedule is constructed over the next week. They need to go at least 3-1 over the next two series with a sweep over Bloomsburg on Saturday to have a chance. The Huskies sit in front of the Marauders with a 16-12 conference record and travel to face No. 15 East Stroudsburg on Thursday. As long as Bloomsburg does not sweep the Warriors, Millersville will have a chance.
• Turner became the team's all-time leader in games played with her start in game two. She's appeared in 192 games as a Marauder, topping the mark of 191 set by Gabbie Berry.

POSTGAME REACTION FROM HEAD COACH JEN PROBST

• On Saverase's clutch pitching: "Ang is never phased in the circle. She was spinning the ball well. She's a lot of fun to call pitches for."
• On Turner: "Gabi has been a team captain for four years. She brings a great vibe and just loves to have fun on the field. This year she's not only stepped up her leadership but has been more reliable than ever to get the job done when we need it."

UP NEXT

• Millersville heads to Shepherd to take on the Rams on Thursday in a critical PSAC East Clash. Game one begins at 2 p.m.