Photo by: Kaya Wagner 2026
Fielding miscues cost Marauders loss in home opener
2/28/2026 8:01:00 PM | Baseball
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Three fielding errors led to four unearned runs, and that was the difference in Millersville's 6-4 loss to visiting Goldey-Beacom in Saturday's home opener.
Both teams are now 4-4, and Goldey-Beacom's win not only stopped Millersville's five-game winning streak in the series but also resulted in Millersville's first loss in a home opener since 2017.
Goldey-Beacom's first two runs scored after an inning-extending error in the third inning, and the Marauders trailed 4-3 with one out in the ninth, but after fielding an up-the-middle groundball, Brady Ebbert's throw to first carried low and up the line, skipping under the glove of first baseman Jimmy Kirk. A run scored on the play. After a Goldey-Beacom single, Xavier Smith snared a liner off the bat of Jerry Current and quickly fired to second base for a double play. But second baseman Donis Rodriguez lost the ball when the runner drove back into the base, and the ball flew into right field, allowing Zach Smethers to score.
"We have to take care of the baseball," said Millersville head coach Jon Shehan. "We had three costly errors, and they all put runs on the board...We just need to keep teaching and sticking to the process. We'll keep getting better--we've already gotten better believe it or not. We just find ways to shoot ourselves in the foot right now, and it just comes down to playing fundamental baseball--making good throws, taking care of the ball and pitching ahead."
Those miscues loomed large as Millersville immediately scored on a Hunter Stevens single in the ninth. But with two on base, no outs and the tying run at the plate, Kevin Dillion closed the door with three consecutive outs. All nine starting hitters reached base, and eight recorded at least one hit. Ebbert's three-run home run in the sixth turned a 4-0 game into a one-run deficit.
"We didn't adjust offensively and that's why we had so many missed opportunities," said Shehan. "We had 21 misses under the fastball, which is not our team. We have to adjust better pitch to pitch."
Former Marauder Korey Williams (2-0) pitched five shutout innings before giving up the Ebbert blast in the sixth. Using a pick off in the first and double-play in the fifth, Williams faced one over the minimum until the sixth.
"You tip your cap," said Shehan. "That was the best game I've seen Korey pitch. He's always had the staff, but he managed the game better than I've seen him."
Millersville received 4 2/3 stellar innings of relief work from freshman Eli Simonton. He struck out six without issuing a walk. Both runs he allowed came as a direct result of fielding errors.
"He continues to do it, and he's going to get his opportunity to start," said Shehan. "He deserves it. He's pitched as well or better than anyone so far. He's kept us in ball games. He gets ahead of almost everybody."
Millersville and Goldey-Beacom close out the series Sunday with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.
Both teams are now 4-4, and Goldey-Beacom's win not only stopped Millersville's five-game winning streak in the series but also resulted in Millersville's first loss in a home opener since 2017.
Goldey-Beacom's first two runs scored after an inning-extending error in the third inning, and the Marauders trailed 4-3 with one out in the ninth, but after fielding an up-the-middle groundball, Brady Ebbert's throw to first carried low and up the line, skipping under the glove of first baseman Jimmy Kirk. A run scored on the play. After a Goldey-Beacom single, Xavier Smith snared a liner off the bat of Jerry Current and quickly fired to second base for a double play. But second baseman Donis Rodriguez lost the ball when the runner drove back into the base, and the ball flew into right field, allowing Zach Smethers to score.
"We have to take care of the baseball," said Millersville head coach Jon Shehan. "We had three costly errors, and they all put runs on the board...We just need to keep teaching and sticking to the process. We'll keep getting better--we've already gotten better believe it or not. We just find ways to shoot ourselves in the foot right now, and it just comes down to playing fundamental baseball--making good throws, taking care of the ball and pitching ahead."
Those miscues loomed large as Millersville immediately scored on a Hunter Stevens single in the ninth. But with two on base, no outs and the tying run at the plate, Kevin Dillion closed the door with three consecutive outs. All nine starting hitters reached base, and eight recorded at least one hit. Ebbert's three-run home run in the sixth turned a 4-0 game into a one-run deficit.
"We didn't adjust offensively and that's why we had so many missed opportunities," said Shehan. "We had 21 misses under the fastball, which is not our team. We have to adjust better pitch to pitch."
Former Marauder Korey Williams (2-0) pitched five shutout innings before giving up the Ebbert blast in the sixth. Using a pick off in the first and double-play in the fifth, Williams faced one over the minimum until the sixth.
"You tip your cap," said Shehan. "That was the best game I've seen Korey pitch. He's always had the staff, but he managed the game better than I've seen him."
Millersville received 4 2/3 stellar innings of relief work from freshman Eli Simonton. He struck out six without issuing a walk. Both runs he allowed came as a direct result of fielding errors.
"He continues to do it, and he's going to get his opportunity to start," said Shehan. "He deserves it. He's pitched as well or better than anyone so far. He's kept us in ball games. He gets ahead of almost everybody."
Millersville and Goldey-Beacom close out the series Sunday with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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