NCAA DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP - CARY, N.C.
GAME THREE
CARY, N.C. – The Millersville Marauders baseball team's season came to a close after a heartbreaking 6-5 loss to Cal State San Bernadino in an elimination game on Wednesday afternoon. Millersville fought back from behind after trailing in the top of the ninth inning, scoring three runs to take a 5-3 lead into the bottom half of the inning. Cal State scored three runs in the ninth--without registering a hit--including the game-winning sacrifice fly by Daryl Ruiz.
Millersville pitcher Colby Gromlich spun an incredible effort as an infrequent starter, throwing 104 pitches over 7.2 innings and only allowing one earned run. Justin Taylor gave Millersville the lead after crushing a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie. Cal State added a run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single to make it a one-run game, then tacked on two more in the bottom of the eighth on a Giovanni Del Negro double to take a 3-2 lead into the top of the ninth. Millersville, down to its last three outs, rallied--sending eight batters to the plate and taking the lead on a Matthew Williams two-run single to left field. Bren Taylor added a squeeze bunt for another run to make it 5-3, but Millersville's bullpen could not hold the lead. Cal State drew three walks and scored on a hit-by-pitch to draw within a run, then a wild pitch tied the game, 5-5. A deep fly ball to right field by Ruiz was all they needed to win the game and advance in the bracket.
Millersville ends the season with a 46-10 overall record and a PSAC East regular-season title.
GAME TWO
CARY, N.C. – The Millersville University baseball team ran into the No. 4-seeded Rollins Tars, who put up 17 runs to defeat the Marauders on Monday evening, 17-4. Millersville used three pitchers in the first three innings, with Rollins five runs in the first inning and two more in the second to take a 7-0 lead. Millersville answered back with three runs in the top of the third, with a solo home run by Chase Simmons to lead off the inning followed by a Sam Morris RBI single and a Justin Taylor RBI groundout to make it 7-3, but that is as close as the Marauders would come.
The journey is not over for Millersville, though – they will play Cal State San Bernadino on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in an elimination game.
GAME ONE
CARY, N.C. – The Millersville University baseball team continued to stay hot in the postseason, winning its sixth straight game overall, 6-5, over UIndy in the opening game of the 2023 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship. Shortstop Thomas Caufield launched a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to put Millersville in front for good and secure the comeback win, while the back end of the Marauders’ bullpen once again did its job to help the team move on in the winner’s bracket.
Millersville took an early lead right away in the bottom of the first courtesy of RBI singles from Sam Morris and Cole Houser to make it 2-0. UIndy tied It in the top of the third, 2-2, after a pair of RBI singles themselves and took the lead in the top of the fifth on yet another RBI single to make it 3-2. The UIndy lead increased to 5-2 in the top of the sixth after a double down the left field by Easton Good, but the Ville got a run back in the bottom of the frame when Justin Taylor shot a ball through the right side of the infield to plate Sam Morris.
Down 5-3, Millersville once again relied on one of its stars in the bottom of the seventh. Caufield connected on an opposite-field three-run shot to just tucked itself inside the left field foul pole to give the Marauders a 6-5 advantage. Evan Rishell, Nate Young, and Kris Pirozzi held the Greyhounds scoreless the rest of the way to ensure Millersville’s advancement in the bracket.
The Marauders will face Rollins, the No. 4 seed, on Monday, June 5 at 6:00 PM.
SUPER REGIONAL
DAY TWO
Game Two: Millersville defeats Seton Hill, 11-6
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - The Millersville University baseball team defeated Seton Hill, 11-6, in the second game of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Super Regional to secure the sweep and advance to the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship next week in Cary, N.C. Millersville took an early lead with a Sam Morris RBI single in the top of the first inning but Seton Hill answered back in the bottom of the second with a trio of runs on a pair of RBI singles from Noah Sweeney and Joe Fiedor and a sacrifice fly from Logan Vietmeier to take the 3-1 lead.
The Marauders regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning, first tying the game, 4-4, after a Sam Morris double down the left field line. Keegan Soltis then launched a two-run home run over the left field fence to make it 6-4. Morris earned his third and fourth RBIs of the game in the top of the sixth inning, shooting a ball through the left side of the infield to make it 9-5. Freshman Matt Williams stepped in and crushed another home run to bring Morris home and break open the game with an 11-5 lead.
Millersville's pitching duo of Garet Blankenbiller and Evan Rishell stabilized the game in the middle innings. Blankenbiller tossed two scoreless innings and struck out one batter, while Rishell went 3.2 innings, allowing five hits and just one earned run. The Marauders advance to Cary, NC for the first time since the 2016 season and the fourth time in program history. The double-elimination championship finals run from June 3-10 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.
DAY ONE
Game One: Millersville defeats Seton Hill, 9-4
Millersville, powered by four home runs from the bottom half of its lineup, opened up the 2023 NCAA Division II Baseball Atlantic Super Regional with a 9-4 victory over Seton Hill. The Marauders' Cole Houser launched a pair of home runs, including one in the five-run bottom of the fourth for Millersville that erased a 2-0 Seton Hill advantage. The Griffins put up a run in the top of the first thanks to a Jack Oberdorf bomb to left center and added another in the top of the fourth on a Noah Sweeney RBI double to take a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the frame, Millersville tied the game, 2-2, on a Sam Morris RBI groundout and a Keegan Soltis double. Houser launched his two-run shot to make it 4-2, and Justin Taylor made it back-to-back homers to increase the lead to 5-2. Chase Simmons added a solo homer in the fifth to make it 6-2 and Houser left the yard again to increase the lead to 7-2 in the sixth inning. Seton Hill made it interesting in the ninth inning, loading the bases and drawing an RBI walk from Logan Vietmeier to bring the Griffins within five runs, but Colby Gromlich finished the game on the mound for Millersville. completing his two innings with no earned runs and two strikeouts. Millersville starter Carson Kulina picked up his ninth victory of the campaign, going six innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs, and striking out four.
Game two of the best-of-three series is scheduled for Saturday, May 26 at 11 a.m. Game three, if necessary, is scheduled for 2:30 p.m the same afternoon.
ATLANTIC REGIONALS
DAY FOUR (Sunday, May 21, 2023)
Game One: Seton Hill defeats Mercyhurst, 4-0
Facing elimination, the Seton Hill University baseball team defeated Mercyhurst, 4-0, to force another decisive game on Sunday afternoon. The Griffins got a standout pitching performance from Andino Vecchiolla, who pitched eight innings, allowed five hits and no earned runs, and struck out six. Seton Hill scraped together enough offense to support him, with Logan Vietmeier, Jack Oberdorf, and Braden Durham all knocking in runs.
Game Two: Seton Hill defeats Mercyhurst, 12-5
The Seton Hill Griffins twice survived elimination on Sunday and advanced to next Friday's Super Regional after a 12-5 win over Mercyhurst in the second game of the day. Seton Hill, the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic Region, will face No. 1 seed Millersville on Friday, May 26 and Saturday, May 27 in a best-of-three series to decide which team advances out of the region. The Griffins' pitching was excellent in game one of the day, but the bats made a statement early in game two. Seton Hill scored 11 runs in the first three innings, including five in the bottom of the first that included a three-run Max Mandler home run. Vincenzo Rauso finished the game with a team-high three hits (3-for-4, two RBIs, two runs scored) while Owen Sabol (2-for-4, four RBIs, one run scored) and Logan Vietmeier (2-for-4, two RBIs, one run scored) were also key contributors.
DAY THREE (Saturday, May 20, 2023)
Seton Hill defeats East Stroudsburg, 10-4
Seton Hill University's baseball team survived an elimination game versus East Stroudburg by winning 10-4 on Saturday evening. The Griffins' bats were led by Vincenzo Rauso (3-for-3, one run scored, one RBI), Owen Sabol (3-for-3, four RBIs, a home run, and a run scored) and Jack Whalen (1-for-3, two runs scored, two RBIs.) Seton Hill's Aidan Layton pitched 5.1 innings, striking out four and allowing four earned runs, but Michael Marinchak came on in relief and shut down ESU, allowing just three hits, no runs, and striking out three in 3.2 innings to close the game out.
Seton Hill now advances to Sunday to once again face Mercyhurst--who defeated SHU on Friday thanks to a Luke Jackson walk-off grand slam. Mercyhurst needs just one victory to advance to the Super Regional, while Seton Hill needs a pair of victories.
Millersville defeats West Chester, 6-4
The Millersville Marauders advanced to the NCAA Division II Baseball Super Regional after a 6-4 victory over West Chester, defeating the Rams for the second straight day. The two teams traded the lead multiple times in the game, including in the top of the second inning, when West Chester's JR Gifford smacked a two-run homer to give his team a 2-1 lead. Millersville tied it in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI double by Justin Taylor, but the Golden Rams again went in front on a John DeMucci RBI single in the top of the third that made the game 3-2. The Marauders once again tied the game, 3-3, in the bottom of the inning after a Bren Taylor single that plated Jimmy Losh.
A West Chester sacrifice fly from Sean Szestowicki gave the Rams a 4-3 lead, and there was no more scoring until the bottom of the eighth, when Millersville struck yet again. A Losh double brought home Chase Simmons to tie the game at 4-4, then a Thomas Caufield double and a Keegan Soltis single brought in two more runs to make it 6-4. Millersville reliever Evan Rishell slammed the door in the ninth inning, pitching 2.1 innings striking out one, and not allowing a hit or a run. Losh finished the game 3-for-4 at the top of the lineup with three runs scored and an RBI.
DAY TWO (Friday, May 19, 2023)
East Stroudsburg defeats Shippensburg University, 20-4
The East Stroudsburg Warriors survived an elimination game with an impressive offensive display, scoring 20 total runs in a 20-4 victory over Shippensburg University. ESU starting pitcher Tom Reisinger pitched five scoreless innings, allowing just five hits and striking out eight. Tim Haverstick logged three hits and three RBIs, with Jeremy Piatkiewicz (three hits, two RBIs, four runs scored) also having a great day at the plate. Jack Rothenhausler knocked in a team-high four RBIs and was 2-for-2 in the game. Once the lead was established, five ESU relievers finished the game out of the bullpen.each tossing an inning.
Mercyhurst defeats Seton Hill, 8-6
A walk-off grand slam from Mercyhurst's Luke Jackson carried the Lakers to victory over Seton Hill, 8-6, in the Winner's Bracket Final of the NCAA Division II Baseball Atlantic Regional hosted by the Griffins. Jackson's blast capped off a game in which Mercyhurst came from behind on two separate occasions. Seton Hill took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first before the Lakers battled back with a Zachary Kourous RBI double and a Lucas Folmar two-run homer to make it 3-2. The Griffins put up three runs in the top of the fourth that included a Braden Durham home run, but Jackson and Mercyhurst rallied in the bottom of the ninth to advance to the championship round at the Atlantic Regional.
Millersville defeats West Chester, 8-5
The Millersville Marauders bested West Chester, 8-5, in the first game of what is essentially a three-game series to determine which team advances out of the Atlantic Regional pod hosted by Millersville. Marauders' starter Matt Seibert threw 6.2 innings, allowing just three earned runs and striking out three Golden Rams. He got plenty of run support thanks to three-hit games from Bren Taylor (3-for-4, three runs scored), Sam Morris (3-for-4, two RBIs), and Keegan Soltis (3-for-4, two RBIs.) Thomas Caufield added two hits and a team-high three RBIs. West Chester staged a late comeback, with Luke Cantwell smacking a two-run single to right center to plate two runs and bring the Golden Rams within three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but Millersville's Colby Gromlich struck out the last batter of the game to secure the win for his team.
DAY ONE (Thursday, May 18, 2023)
Seton Hill defeats Shippensburg, 14-6
The Shippensburg Raiders took a 4-0 lead over Seton Hill in the top of the first inning, but the PSAC champion Griffins battled back, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead and tacked on four more in the bottom of the second to break the game open. Four Seton Hill players--Jack Whalen, Vincenzo Rauso, Jack Oberdorf, and Logan Vietmeier--ended the game with two hits apiece. Oberdorf left the park with a home run and tallied two RBIs and two runs scored. Seton Hill starter Brandon Bergert tossed 6.1 innings to pick up his eighth win of the season, giving up five earned runs and striking out seven. Reliever Jack Laird finished the game for the Griffins, throwing 2.2 innings, allowing three hits, and picking up a trio of strikeouts.
West Chester defeats Charleston, 5-1
West Chester University opened up the 2023 NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional at Millersville University with a win over Charleston, 5-1, in the first game of the day. The Golden Rams got a stellar pitching performance from PSAC East Freshman of the Year Julian Costa, as he went six innings, struck out 10 batters, and just allowed one earned run. The West Chester offense backed him up with the bats, with Corey Stouffer and Sean Szestowicki each driving in a pair of runs. Evan Profy added three hits from the leadoff spot as the Rams advanced to Day 2.
Millersville defeats Charleston, 6-4
The Millersville University Marauders, the top seed in the Atlantic Region, eliminated Charleston (WV) from the tournament with a 6-4 win. Millersville got a standout performance from Sam Morris at the plate, as he went 5-for-5 from the plate with 4 RBIs and a run scored. Thomas Caufield also added three hits and three runs scored from the third spot in the lineup. Millersville starter Carson Kulina spun 6.1 innings, struck out four, and allowed two earned runs. The only other pitcher the Marauders used was Nate Young, who ended the game with 2.2 innings and four K's.
Mercyhurst defeats East Stroudsburg, 8-6
Mercyhurst University, the No. 6 seed in the bracket, bested No. 3 seed East Stroudsburg, 8-6, in the first round of the NCAA Division II Baseball Atlantic Regional hosted by Seton Hill University. The Lakers got a critical pitching performance from Aiden Kelly, who earned his fourth win of the year and went six innings, allowing just one earned run, three hits, and struck out eight batters. The Mercyhurst bullpen did just enough to hang onto the lead, with the Warriors scoring five runs in the last three innings in a comeback bid, finally ended by Mercyhurst reliever Santino Campoli, who earned the save and the final out of the game by striking out ESU's Shanley Wall. At the plate, Mercyhurst's Luke Jackson led the team with three hits and two RBIs, while four other Lakers--Chris Juchno, Mitchell Grosch, Zachary Kourous, and John Susnik--all had a pair of hits apiece.
INDIANAPOLIS – Six Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference baseball programs were selected to 2023 Division II Baseball Atlantic Regional tournaments, the NCAA announced Sunday night. Millersville, Seton Hill, East Stroudsburg, West Chester, Mercyhurst, and Shippensburg will enter this year's tournament that begins on Thursday, May 18. The 2023 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship features 56 total teams at 16 sites in eight regions.
The No. 1 seed and the Atlantic Region Pod 1 host is Millersville University. The Marauders, who finished the regular season atop the PSAC East Division standings, exited this year's 2023 PSAC Baseball Championship in the first round but have now been selected to the NCAA Baseball Championship for the 10
th consecutive season. The Marauders carry an overall record of 40-8 and feature the PSAC East Player of the Year, Bren Taylor, who is just the fifth player in PSAC history to win that award twice.
The No. 2 seed, and Atlantic Region Pod 2 host, is Seton Hill University. The Griffins won the 2023 PSAC Championship last Saturday afternoon, going undefeated through the tournament, and have an overall record of 44-10. Catcher Vincenzo Rauso was named PSAC Baseball Tournament MVP and Seton Hill's Jack Whalen was voted PSAC West Freshman of the Year in 2023. The Griffins will play No. 7 seed Shippensburg (27-23 overall) who fell victim to the eventual champions on the first day of the PSAC tournament (by a score of 12-1) but find themselves with an opportunity for a rematch at Thursday's regional.
The East Stroudsburg Warriors (35-12 overall) are the No. 3 seed and will compete in Seton Hill's pod. The Warriors, like Millersville, were ousted on the first day of play in the PSAC Championship and have relied all year on PSAC East Pitcher of the Year Chase Nowak. ESU will play No. 6 seed Mercyhurst (28-15 overall) on Thursday in the first round of the double-elimination tournament. Mercyhurst also has a decorated ace on the mound in PSAC West Pitcher of the Year Jarrett Heilman.
The West Chester Golden Rams (31-18 overall) are the No. 5 seed after making a deep run in last weekend's PSAC Championship—making it all the way to the championship game—and travel to Millersville to play No. 4 seed Charleston (WV) in the opening round of the three-team regional. The Rams' Julian Costa, the PSAC East Freshman of the Year, was the starting pitcher for a pair of games at last week's PSAC tournament.