The Shippensburg University baseball team kicked off a four game home stand with Le Moyne College Friday afternoon. SU pitcher Marcus Shippey allowed only one hit in Game 1, as SU captured a 2–0 victory. Game 2 featured a powerful Raider offense that was able to secure a 9–0 win over the Dolphins. Game 3 was concluded with a huge Jake Kennedy walk-off blast to give the Raiders a 5–3 win.
Friday
Shippey was lights out Friday against a struggling Le Moyne team. The sophomore pitcher only allowed one hit and recorded four strikeouts in the shutout.
The Raider’s plated two runs in the game. The first run came in the first inning off of a Pat Kregeloh single to left.
SU scored its second run in the second inning off a Michael Douglas single, this time to right field. The score remained 2–0 for the remainder of the game.
Shippey improved his overall record to 2–0 on the season.
Saturday
Game 2: Mark Curtis continued the pitching clinic for SU in Game 2 of the series. Curtis only allowed four hits through six and recorded five strike-outs.
The Raider bats came alive in Game 2.
SU scored two runs in the second inning from a Kennedy double and an Austin Allison ground out giving SU an early 2–0 lead.
The Raiders notched four more runs in the fifth inning. Mike Marcinko, Kregeloh and Kennedy all pick up RBIs.
SU’s final three runs came in the sixth inning off a Kregeloh blast to left field, putting the Raiders up 9–0.
Curtis received his second win of the season, improving to 2–0.
Game 3: The final game slated for Saturday was a nail bitter. The game remained scoreless into the fourth inning when Kregeloh again homered to left.
The Raiders picked up another run the fourth inning on a Cody Ezolt fly ball, giving SU a 3–0 lead.
The Dolphins responded quickly, plating a run in the fifth and sixth inning to bring the game within one run 3–2.
SU was unable to close-out the game in the top of the seventh inning, allowing a game-tying home run from Nate Reynolds of LMC.
The Raiders would not be denied though in the bottom of the seventh. Kennedy stepped up big again in a big spot and sent a two-run, game winning blast over the fence in left field, giving SU a hard fought win, 5-3.
SU pitcher Austin Bartley received the win.
Kennedy finished the first three games going 2–6 at the plate including his game winning homerun.
Kennedy’s walk off also notched head coach Matt Jones’ 200th career victory as a Raider.
SU improved its overall record to 10–3 with two wins on Saturday. The final game of the series will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Fairchild Field.
The Slate welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.