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Johnstown, Pa. - Through four and a half innings of Thursday's PSAC Tournament elimination game with Slippery Rock, Millersville looked like it was in for an early trip home. But three runs in the seventh, and Chris Edgar's two-run single in the bottom of the eighth completed a stirring, come-from-behind, 7-5 win. Millersville advances to play Friday at 12:30 p.m.

The No. 8 Marauders (38-9) were on the brink of elimination, trailing 5-1 after Slippery Rock's three-run top of the fifith. The Rock (27-19) bounced usually steady starter Brooks Rothschild with four earned runs on seven hits and two walks.

Millersville slowly chipped away, though. In the bottom of the fifth, Ryan McCormick led off with a single and Edgar walked to put two on base. A wild pitch moved both into scoring position. Mike August followed wth a sacrifice fly, bringing the Marauders to within three.

Freshman Tad Barton (6-0) entered in relief for the Marauders and was nearly perfect. After allowing a lead-off double in the sixth, he retired nine consecutive batters of his three innings, giving Millersville an opportunity for a comeback.

Millersville came up empty in the sixth, but in the seventh, a costly Slippery Rock throwing error on an Edgar ground ball jump-started a big inning. Derek Kline then doubled to put two on base, and Zach Stone came through with a sacrifice fly. Now trailing 5-3, Millersville received a RBI single to right off the bat of Mike August. Corey Phelan singled to keep the rally alive, and with Carlos Medina at the plate, the Marauders perfectly executed a daring double steal that put August and Phelan in scoring position. Medina hit a rocket at the Slippery Rock third baseman, who knocked down the ball and forced Medina at first, but August crossed the plate to tie the game at 5-5.

In the eighth, working against reliever John Kovalik (1-1), Nick Bonadies drew a leadoff walk. McCormick was hit by a pitch putting two on base. Mark Maiorano pinch ran for Bonadies, and a wild pitch put runners on second and third. Edgar, after working a 2-2 count against Joby Lapkowicz, lined a single down the left field line, snapping the tie and giving Millersvill 7-5 lead.

Closer Zach Eckley came on in the ninth and sat down The Rock in order for his eighth save of the year.

Both teams totaled eight hits. McCormick led Millersville with two.

Millersville moves on to play the loser of the California (Pa.)/Mercyhurst contest at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. The winner of that game will play Thursday at 6:30 p.m.