MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - No. 24 Millersville polished off a 6-0 Spring Break with a doubleheader sweep of Lock Haven by scores of 9-2 and 10-4 Saturday at Cooper Park.
Millersville (13-3) improved to 8-0 at home and scored double-digit runs for the eighth time. The Marauders outscored their opponents 59-19 on the week.
Matthew Williams led the offense Saturday, hitting three-run home runs in the first and second inning of the opener and then scoring three runs and hitting his third double of the weekend in the nightcap.
"We needed to have a good week after a tough series in West Virginia," said Millersville head coach
Jon Shehan. "I was happy with how we responded...
Matthew Williams had a fantastic weekend at the plate."
Sam Morris finished the doubleheader with four hits and five RBIs, and
Keegan Soltis had a hit and drew a walk in both games and scored five total runs.
Neither of Saturday's games were ever in doubt for the Marauders. They scored four runs in the first inning of both games. Williams' three-run shot started game one, and in game two, Morris and
Xavier Smith cracked two-run doubles into left center. Lock Haven did pull within 6-4 after a two-run top of the fifth in game two, but Millersville immediately responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by a bases-loaded double from
Jimmy Kirk. All five of Millersville's hits in game two were doubles. The Marauders drew seven walks and were hit by two pitches in the game.
On the mound,
Connor Blantz (2-0) won game one, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out nine. He became just the second Millersville pitcher to strike out nine or more batters in three consecutive starts since game-by-game stats became archived in 2005. Game two starter
Garet Blankenbiller allowed two runs through his first four innings before running into trouble in the fifth, following back-to-back strikeouts with a walk and hit batsman. That's when Lock Haven pulled within two.
Gavin Lill closed the win with 1 2/3 perfect innings.
"Overall, we pitched pretty well today," said Shehan. "We'd like to have an inning or two back, but I was pleased."
GAME NOTES
- Millersville has now won 13 in a row against Lock Haven, winning 21 of 22 games at Cooper Park.
- Bren Taylor's two hits in game one moved him ahead of Tyler Orris for second in career hits at Millersville with 276.
UP NEXT
- Millersville and Frostburg State play Wednesday at Cooper Park in a rematch of last season's NCAA Atlantic Regional.
