Kirk's grand slam caps come-from-behind win

Tuesday, April 21

Millersville, PA

3:00 PM

Millersville University

27-13

Wilmington (Del.)

29-14

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Wilmington (Del.)	3	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	5	9	2
Millersville	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	6	X	9	10	1

Kirk's grand slam caps come-from-behind win

4/21/2026 8:08:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Ethan Hulsey, Director of Athletic Communications

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Millersville rallied from a two-run deficit, and Jimmy Kirk broke the eighth-inning tie with a grand slam, lifting the Marauders to a 9-5 win over Wilmington.

Kirk's 11th home run of the season broke a 5-5 tie and capped a six-run frame. He stepped to the plate 0-for-4 and with two outs in the inning. But he turned on an 0-1 offering from Ryan Kiendle and lifted it just beyond the left field wall.

That's just Jimmy, said Millersville head coach Jon Shehan. He's had a couple big moments this season. That was an enormous one.

BSB: Tie-breaking grand slam! pic.twitter.com/Cd1z6LJ6Ll
— Millersville Marauders (@VilleMarauders) April 21, 2026

With Millersville battling for position in the regional rankings, there was a sense of urgency from the Marauders' coaching staff to secure a win over the CACC's top team, which entered the game with 29 wins. Shehan used top reliever Joe Morrissey (4-0) for 3 2/3 innings, was aggressive on the base paths (six steals), and played matchups on the mound (using Logan Harrelson to face three left-handed hitters) and at the plate.

This was a huge game for us from a regional standpoint, said Shehan. It probably matters more than the games on Thursday and Friday. We need to get every win we can against a 29-win team.

Kirk's home run gave Millersville its first lead of the game as Wilmington raced to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Wilmington's Brody Gebhard and Zach Frame held Millersville largely in check until the eighth when Frame, making just his fifth appearance of the season, started to run out of gas. Brady Ebbert drew a four-pitch walk. Christo Hunsicker lined a single to left, and Hunter Stevens, pinch-hitting for Troy Chamberlin pushed a two-strike bunt toward first base. A miscommunication on the bunt coverage left first base unattended. Maddox Yost brought the Marauders within one with an RBI ground out.

Hunter goes in the game because he's probably our best sacrifice bunter, said Shehan. He does a really good job. We took a shot at trying to break it open with the slash with the first base almost on top of the plate. He just missed it. I trusted that the first baseman would move back and give a little more room, and he got the job done.

After Xavier Smith walked to load the bases, Donis Rodriguez knotted the game, lining the first pitch from Daviel Fernandez into right field, setting the stage for Kirk's tie-breaking blast.

Donis swung the bat well today and squared up three balls and drew a walk in the first inning, said Shehan. He's starting to look like himself.

Freshman Adam Hajdak made his first career start and provided the Marauders with 4 2/3 innings. After giving up the three runs in the top of the first, Hajdak settled in, consistently threw strikes and ate some much-needed innings. Harrelson bridged the gap to Morrissey, and after allowing an infield single that brought home a run in the sixth, Morrissey got an inning-ending double play and mowed through 10 consecutive Wildcats.

Millersville also received a pair of stellar diving catches from Christian Cerone

in the seventh.

Especially with a quick turnaround--the first midweek we've played--and playing Thursday-Friday, (Hajdak) was huge, said Shehan. You can't overstate that. He gave up a couple hits on ambush fastballs early, and he could have easily panicked, but he settled in and did a good job...Morrissey was efficient, and that's important. He kept it to around 30 pitches, so he'll be ready for the weekend.

Millersville's series with Kutztown, originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday, will now start on Thursday at Cooper Park because of the anticipated weekend rain.