Rams shortstop Trenton Burgeen pictured against West Virginia State (Credit: Shepherd University Athletic Department)

Rams eliminated from Atlantic Regional Tournament with 5-4 loss to Millersville

The Rams baseball season was cut short Friday afternoon when they were edged by Millersville in extra innings by a 5-4 final score.  

The winning run was scored by right fielder Dominic Hardaway after teammate Manning Brookens connected on a single down the right field line in the bottom of the eleventh inning. The Rams were playing from behind for most of the game as Millersville scored once in the bottom of the second off an RBI by second baseman Ted Williams that brought home Brookens.  

Millersville held the 1-0 lead until the bottom of the seventh when catcher Ben Snyder helped to add the second run off an RBI double that scored center fielder Cole Friese. With the game getting close to the end of regulation, sophomore center fielder no. 22 Brenton Doyle hit a solo home run to right field to get the Rams on the board in the top of the eighth inning. The Rams couldn’t produce any extra offense that inning but also held Millersville scoreless in the bottom of the eighth.  

Shepherd finally took the lead for a moment in the top of the ninth inning after junior left fielder no. 8 Reid Entsminger connected on a successful sac-fly that got junior right fielder Nick Atkinson home. Junior first baseman no. 2 Justin Smith got the Rams their 4-2 lead late in the game thanks to a two-run home run that scored Doyle.  

In heartbreaking fashion, Millersville stormed back in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game up at 4-4 thanks to a heads up play by Friese who scored on a double play fielder’s choice from the Rams defense. That was followed by an RBI double by Hardaway that scored third baseman Kaylor Kulina.  

Both teams went scoreless in the tenth inning although Millersville got runners on base, but couldn’t capitalize. Rams sophomore pitcher no. 37 Mitchell Johnson picked up the loss, his third on the year after surrendering the winning run even though he pitched an otherwise decent game after coming in during the bottom of the ninth.  

Millersville pitcher Aidan Welch picked up the win, his second on the season after being able to hold the Rams scoreless in extra innings.  

It was not the way the Rams wanted to end their season, but they have a lot to pride themselves on after a 38-17 overall record.  

Vaughn Brewer is a sports writer for The Picket. He can be reached at vbrewe01@rams.shepherd.edu 

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