Millersville University
14-4
Pitt-Johnstown
9-9
Marauders complete series sweep; stretch winning streak to 11
3/15/2026 6:20:00 PM | Baseball
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Behind quality starts from Matt Shamany and Rece Ritchey, Millersville baseball polished off a four-game series sweep of Pitt-Johnstown and extended its winning streak to 11, winning Sunday's games by scores of 5-2 and 3-0.
Shamany (3-0), pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out four, setting Millersville up for a win in Sunday's opener. In game two, Ritchey out-dueled UPJ's Jared Dowey, going five shutout innings, striking out five while allowing two hits and three walks.
Millersville owns the longest active winning streak in the PSAC heading into next weekend's PSAC East-opening series against the team with the second-longest active streak--East Stroudsburg. Millersville allowed just five total runs in the four-game series, logged two shutouts, and its starting pitching combined to allow just two earned runs in 21 2/3 innings.
In Sunday's opener, Millersville scored in each of the first three innings for an early 4-0 lead. Hunter Stevens' safety squeeze bunt put the Marauders up 5-0 in the sixth. Both of UPJ's runs came in the top of the seventh against the bullpen. Shamany needed just 76 pitches to navigate his six innings. Jimmy Kirk doubled twice and drew a walk. Christo Hunsicker and Sammy Laux also contributed two hits. Donis Rodriguez also drew two walks and scored a run.
In game two, Ritchey and Dowey went pitch-for-pitch for five innings. Both offenses managed just two hits through the first five innings. Dowey retired seven in a row at one point. Ritchey rolled a double-play after a leadoff single in the fourth, and Dowey escaped a two-on jam in the bottom of the inning. Ritchey did the same in the top of the fifth, and Dowey mowed through the Marauders in seven pitches in the bottom of the frame.
In the sixth, reliever Adam Hajdak ran into trouble, issuing back-to-back two-out walks. But he struck out Wesley Conville to end the inning and keep the game scoreless. Dowey could not answer the bell in the sixth. He hit Rodriguez on a full-count offering and then plunked Matthew Williams. Both players advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Jimmy Kirk then hit a high chopper to third base. Rodriguez broke on contact and slid safely at home to break the tie. Then, with the infield drawn in, Brady Ebbert hit a sharp grounder to the second baseman. Again, Williams sprinted home on contact and scored when the throw came in late and low.
Hunsicker and Laux added to the lead with RBI singles. Nolan Kidwell entered in the top of the seventh and retired the side in order.
POSTGAME REACTION FROM JON SHEHAN
On aggressive base-running in game two: That kid was throwing a great game, and we had to find a way to score a run. We had to find a way to put pressure on him. We took a chance. He was really good today.
On Shamany and Ritchey's pitching: Locating a couple of pitches. Ritchey pitched himself into some trouble but made pitches to get out of it. Sham was really good today. He's been consistent the last few weeks. I would like to see us throw more strikes. We made some mistakes that could have hurt us and didn't. There are still opportunities to learn.
On the freshmen relievers in game two: Guys come in and aren't locating two pitches, they have to battle through it. That's what (Hajdak) did. Nerves get up a little bit. It's a good thing for those guys to get in tight games and get some work. It was nice to see Kidwell come out and pound the zone.
On what he's seen from the team during the winning streak: Guys playing different positions, being called on to do different things, getting freshmen out there. Xavier Smith went out and played right field for the first time. Our outfield defense was outstanding all weekend. Guys made some great plays. The starting pitching has been really good.
UP NEXT
Millersville begins PSAC East play Friday at 1 p.m. against East Stroudsburg.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Shamany, Matt (3-0)
L: Aiden Coleman (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Karson Reffner 1 ; Aidan Steinbugl 1
RBI: Alex Ebeling 1 ; Brody Roberts 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Aidan Steinbugl 1 ; Crusen Stover 1
Batting:
2B: Kirk, Jimmy 2
RBI: Kirk, Jimmy 1 ; Smith, Xavier 1 ; Hunsicker, Christo 1 ; Stevens, Hunter 1
SH: Stevens, Hunter 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rodriguez, Donis 1 ; Kirk, Jimmy 1 ; Smith, Xavier 2 ; Hunsicker, Christo 1
SB: Rodriguez, Donis 1 ; Smith, Xavier 1 ; Hunsicker, Christo 1 ; Laux, Sammy 1
CS: Rodriguez, Donis 1
HBP: Smith, Xavier 1
