Brenden Curry

Staff Writer

Millersville reliever Eric Ligda stated last week that the Marauders haven’t lost a series yet and they don’t plan on losing one.

That statement held true as the Marauders climbed the number one ranking in Division II after the doubleheader sweep against Bloomsburg this past Saturday.

Dan Stoltzfus is part of the electric Marauders’ offense.
Dan Stoltzfus is part of the electric Marauders’ offense.

Millersville second baseman Ted Williams stated that the ranking is a milestone for the program. Relief pitcher Eric Ligda stated that the number one ranking has been the team’s ultimate goal the whole season.

The Marauders won both games over the Huskies by scores of 15-9 and 10-7 which extends its winning streak to 12 games.

The two double-digit wins over Bloomsburg gives the Marauders their second straight doubleheader sweep. It was second time that Millersville scored double digit run totals in a doubleheader this season.

“We believe that we can win every game,” Williams said.

In game one, The Marauders overcame a 3-0 deficit by scoring four runs in the third inning. Marauders Mitch Stoltzfus and Ben Snyder both hit two-run homers in the fourth.

The runs kept on coming for Millersville in the fifth and seventh innings. Dan Stoltzfus hit a two-run homer in the fifth.

Junior outfielder Chas McCormick hit a two-run single, which added to Millersville’s four runs scored along with a RBI ground out from Tyler Webster in the seventh.

“He played exceptional all series,” Williams commented on Webster’s play.

The victory in game one allowed Millersville starter Jim McDade to remain perfect at 7-0. In five innings of work, he allowed four runs on six hits.

With his two-run homer in the fourth inning, Ben Snyder hit a double and three RBIs to go 6-for-9. McCormick would finish 5-for-7 after walking twice, hitting two doubles, a triple and four RBIs. Alongside McCormick, David Summerfield also went 5-for-7.

Game two also featured a big lead built by the Marauders. In the top of the seventh, Millersville took a 10-1 lead. Millersville sent 11 batters to the plate with them tallying six hits. D. Stoltzfus, Jeremy Musser, Aaron Taylor and Summerfield hit four consecutive doubles for the Marauders in the inning.

After building a seemingly comfortable lead, Millersville witnessed an offensive explosion from the Huskies.

Bloomsburg would come back in their half of the seventh. They scored their first run off a single in three consecutive walks. A double by Tyler Benson cleared the bases for the Huskies. With no outs in the inning, Huskies Austin Edgette and Ryan Kirman both hit singles to cut the deficit at 10-7.

Millersville reliever Logan Grant got out of the jam by having second baseman Ted Williams catch back-to-back pop-outs. A ground ball allowed Grant and the Marauders to earn the third and final out to prevent a walk off victory for Bloomsburg from happening.

“It was one of those games where the other team put together some quality at bats,” Williams said. “It happens in baseball sometimes.”

Despite the hiccup late in the game, Millersville starter Reid Anderson pitched six sturdy innings. While striking out five batters, he did not allow an earned run and a walk.

McCormick once again contributed by scoring twice, tacking two RBIs with a single, double, triple and a walk. Summerfield went 3-for-4 after driving into runs.

“We aren’t a bunch of individuals,” Williams said. “We’re an actual team whose goal is to win the whole thing.”

The Marauders will have back-to-back doubleheaders against Shippensburg this coming weekend. They will return to Cooper Park on Saturday, April 23 to face the Red Raiders at 1 PM.

“When you put together a whole series, it feels great,” Millersville second baseman Ted Williams said.

Even though they may be number one in the country, the team still wants to continue to get better. Right now, they want to carry out the ranking that they want to be at once the season ends.

“Obviously it’s a great accomplishment and we’re aware of it,” Ligda said.” We try not to focus on it too much.”

“We look at it as one game at a time and one pitch at a time,” Williams stated.