Jared Kish
Sports Editor

The Millersville softball team came into Saturday’s double header against Kutztown one game below .500. At 15-16 overall and 1-1 in the PSAC East division, the Marauders surely want to improve on those marks.

Millersville quickly jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first thanks to Maggie Murphy. Murphy put together a patient at-bat and drew a bases loaded walk to score Allie Janowiak. The Marauder offense would be stopped there as they would not put up any more runs in the game.

In the top half of the second, Kutztown would answer the Marauders run by scoring three of their own. The Golden Bears sent two balls over the outfield wall giving Kutztown a 3-1 lead.

The next inning remained scoreless but in the fourth, Kutztown’s Sara Keeny drove in the final run of the first game with a sacrifice fly.

Down 4-1 in the sixth the Marauders had a chance to do something. With the bases loaded and Hunter Little up to bat she had the opportunity to drive in some runs for the Marauders. Unfortunately, the Kutztown pitching got Little to pop up ending the Millersville threat.

This took the wind out of Millersville’s sails as they would drop the first game to Kutztown 4-1. The Marauder pitching struggled as Catherine Johnson started and gave up three runs. Maddie Guinane came in relief and only gave up a run but allowed seven hits.    

Losing game one, the Marauders looked to make a turnaround in game two.

Kutztown opened up with a run in the top of the first, scoring on a passed ball. The Golden Bears would then score four more in the top of the third building a 5-0 lead over the Marauders.

The Golden Bears pitching would be on lock down mode until the bottom half of the seventh when Brianna White led off with a homer, giving Millersville their only point of the game. White’s home run did not spark any rally as the Marauders dropped game two of their double header with Kutztown 6-1.   

Kutztown’s starter Bridget Bailey kept the Marauder bats silent, only allowing four hits, two coming from Janowiak.

White got the start for the Marauders and allowed three hits, four runs, while she struck out three batters in the losing effort. Emma Bevard came in relief and through the final five innings and allowed three hits and two runs.  

Millersville’s offense struggled just scoring two runs in two games. Their pitching could not handle the Kutztown bats as well as the Golden Bears out scored the Marauders 10-2 for the weekend.   

The Marauders record falls to 15-18 on the season and are now 1-3 in the PSAC East division. They will look to get back into the win column as they face Chestnut Hill on Wednesday, and Shippensburg and Goldey-Beacom this weekend.