Marauder Athletics
as

MARAUDERS’ SEASON ENDS WITH 8-7 LOSS TO KUTZTOWN

May 2 – The Millersville University baseball team saw their season come to an end Friday evening after an 8-7 setback to Kutztown University in the semifinals of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoffs held at Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster, Pa.

Millersville led 7-6 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning but back-to-back doubles with one out by Kutztown tied the game and an ensuing RBI-single by designated hitter James Quigley gave Kutztown their first lead of the game.

Millersville kept the game interesting in the ninth but pinch hitter Andrew Dochterman’s (jr. Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) line drive with two-out and two on tailed right into the glove of centerfielder Garrsion Rausch for the game’s final out.

The Marauders were paced by first baseman Derek Kline (fr. Cleona, Pa./Shippensburg University) and centerfielder Cory Phelan (so. Newark, DE/Charter School of Wilmington).  Kline finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Phelan ended the game 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

Millersville outhit the Golden Bears 12-9 but left 11 runners stranded including two in the final inning.

MU jumped out to an early lead thanks to third baseman Cody Wile’s (jr. Lancaster, Pa/Penn Manor) sacrifice fly and designated hitter Brett Rhoads’ (sr. Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) RBI-single in the top of the first that gave them a 2-0 lead.
Kutztown responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning only to see Millersville jump back out in front with three in the top of the second.

Millersville led 7-4 in the fifth inning but Kutztown again drew within one (7-6) with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning.
Reliver Andrew Clemens (jr. York, Pa./CCBC-Essex), who notched his fourth win of the season earlier in the day, took the loss for the Marauders.

MU starting pitcher Zach Eckley (fr. Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) threw four and one-third innings and gave up six runs, three earned, on four hits as he took a no decision.

The Marauders, who started the season 6-20, rebounded to win 18 of their final 24 games to claim the PSAC East regular season title and number one seed in the conference playoffs.

A year after finishing in last place in the conference and winning just nine total games, Millersville responded with a 12-8 conference record and a mid-season seven-game winning streak.