Smith's walk-off in game one, defense in game two helps Marauders to sweep of Bloomsburg

Friday, April 10

Millersville, PA

1:00 PM

Millersville University

22-10, 7-6

Bloomsburg

17-11, 6-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Bloomsburg	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	4	2
Millersville	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	5	0

Smith's walk-off in game one, defense in game two helps Marauders to sweep of Bloomsburg

4/10/2026 5:42:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Ethan Hulsey, Director of Athletic Communications

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Xavier Smith capped a three-run seventh-inning rally with a walk-off single in Millersville's 3-2 game one win, and his throw to the plate from right field cut down the tying run in game two as Millersville held on for a 2-1 win and a doubleheader sweep of Bloomsburg.

The Marauders and Huskies entered the day deadlocked in the PSAC East, and the scoreboard showed two evenly matched teams as Millersville won both by the narrowest of margins, using stellar pitching and solid defense. Both teams finished the day with just nine hits as offense was at a premium. Freshman Eli Simonton pitched his first career complete game in the opener, retiring 12 consecutive Huskies to end the game. Alex Kuehn went four innings, and Joe Morrissey pitched three to to close out game two with his fourth save of the season.

In the opener, Millersville trailed 2-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh. Marco Pulizzi doubled down the left field line on a 1-2 pitch and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After a Donis Rodriguez walk, Troy Chamberlin sacrificed Pulizzi home. Matthew Williams also drew a walk, putting the winning run on first base with one out. Xander Velez entered out of the bullpen, and Jimmy Kirk smacked a 3-1 pitch off the glove of third baseman Casey O'Brien. The ball deflected into shallow left field, and Rodriguez raced home to tie the game. Brady Ebbert, playing against his former team, hit a fly to right deep enough to move Williams to third, setting the stage for Smith's line shot into the left-center field gap.

Smith went 2 for 2 with a walk in the game. Rodriguez also reached base three times. Simonton (3-1), surrendered just two runs on four hits and a walk.

Game two also went down to the wire. Millersville struck for two runs in the top of the first, but Bloomsburg starter Andrew Armstrong quickly settled in and kept the Marauders off the board for the next five innings. Morrissey entered for Kuehn with a runner on first and no one out in the top of the fifth, and that's when Smith saved Millersville's lead with his defense. With the speedy Grant Russo on second, Dylan Hirsch lined a single to right. Smith charged, caught the ball on one hop and fired a strike to Sammy Laux, who tagged out Russo.

Bloomsburg put two more on base in the sixth, but Morrissey navigated the inning with a pop-out of the No. 9 hitter. Then, with two outs in the seventh, Hirsch hit a sinking liner to shallow center field. Caleb Sturtevant, who had just entered the game as a defensive replacement, made a diving grab to end the game.

The day started with three teams tied for fourth place in the PSAC East, so the wins were pivotal as the Marauders improved to 23-10 overall and 8-6 in division play while Bloomsburg slipped to 17-12 and 6-8 in division.

The series continues Saturday at Bloomsburg.