WINGATE, N.C. - Bren Taylor's two-run triple highlighted a seven-run seventh inning as Millersville rallied for a 10-4 victory over Wingate in game two of Saturday's doubleheader.
The Marauders dropped the opener 9-7 and were on the verge of falling to 0-2 after giving up three runs in the bottom of the sixth and falling behind 4-3 in the nightcap. But the first eight Marauders to the plate reached base in the seventh.
Jeff Sabater's bunt single scored
Sammy Laux to untie the game, and Taylor smacked the 14th triple of his career to expand the lead. That triple moved Taylor into sole possession of the program's career record.
"It's easy to roll over after blowing the lead in the sixth," said Millersville head coach
Jon Shehan. "But our offense is tough. We continued to compile quality at-bats, and situationally, we were nails late in the game."
Sabater and
Matthew Williams both totaled five hits and drew two walks in the doubleheader. Sabater, who led the nation in steals in 2024, scored four runs and stole two bases. Williams drove in five and scored three. In the sixth inning of game two, he hit a two-run homer that broke a 1-1 tie, and he singled in another run during the seventh-inning rally.
GAME ONE
- Wingate scored all nine of its runs in the first four innings of the nine-inning game. Millersville pulled within two runs on Taylor's sacrifice fly in the seventh, but could get no closer. Millersville stranded 14 runners, including two in the seventh and another in the eighth.
- While Wingate was playing its fourth game, Millersville showed some Opening Day rust in the field and on the mound. Each of Wingate's run-scoring innings included a walk, hit batsman, or a Millersville error.
- Sabater went 2 for 4 with two walks and a steal. Taylor and Williams both drove in two runs. Donis Rodriguez scored three runs in his Millersville debut.
GAME TWO
- Connor Blantz, making his Millersville debut, struck out four batters and gave up just one run in 4 1/3 innings. Williams, who had three hits and three RBIs in the game, picked up his first pitching win since Feb. 16, 2023, by working through the sixth inning with two strikeouts. Gavin Lill, a transfer from Pitt, struck out two in a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
- All seven of Millersville's runs in the seventh were accounted to Charlie Carpenter (0-1). Starter Carson Morton took a no-decision after striking out seven and allowing one run on three hits in five innings.
MORE FROM COACH SHEHAN
- On the team's Opening Day performance: "I was pretty pleased overall. It's easy to say it's day one and make excuses that we haven't played enough outside, or that we have new guys making their debuts. That said, I think we did a good job being relentless all day long. Our offense is tough. As an opposing pitcher, you really don't get any breaks. The big key for us going forward is limiting free bases on the mound and defensively. I did like what I saw today from (Alex) Kuehn, (Mike) Costello, Blantz and Lill."
GAME NOTES
- Saturday's games were the first between Millersville and Wingate since 2011. Millersville also had a 10-4 win in that doubleheader split.
- Millersville's 17 runs are the most scored in the first two games of the season since scoring 19 against Winston-Salem State on Feb. 3-4, 2017.
- Taylor entered the season tied with now-assistant coach Jimmy Losh for the program's triples record. Taylor, who last played in 2023, now has 257 hits, trailing Losh by five for fourth all-time.
UP NEXT
- Millersville plays a nine-inning game Sunday at Wingate. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
