The contrast in play was evident as the Shippensburg University baseball team split a doubleheader contest against PSAC foe Indiana University of Pennsylvania Tuesday afternoon at Fairchild Field.
After a steady pitcher’s duel in Game 1 led to a 3-1 victory, fans were treated to an offensive slugfest in game two, as SU and IUP combined for 24 runs and 23 hits in SU’s 13-11 loss.
SU’s pitching staff came through in the clutch in Game 1 as Shawn Patterson showed his dominance on the mound going five innings and allowing only one run. Reliever Austin Bartley pitched a shutout while Kody Kibler picked up his second save of the season.
After an error helped SU score a run in the bottom of the third inning, left fielder Simon Beloff added the insurance run with a homerun to deep right. The two-run lead proved to be enough as SU held on, 3-1.
With a stellar pitching outing by SU in Game 1, the Raiders were looking for more of the same in Game 2. However, starting pitcher Josh Scott struggled to keep runs off the board and SU made key errors in a 13-11 loss in the nightcap.
After a scoreless first inning, Scott allowed four runs on six hits over the next two innings and was pulled without recording an out in the third inning.
IUP scored seven runs in the third inning. Ted Williams doused the flame but let up three runs in the fourth.
SU strived to keep it close throughout the game. Bartley held the Crimson Hawks hitless in his three innings of work but SU could not dig itself out of the hole.
With the split, SU remains above .500 with a 14-10 record but only holds a 2-4 record in the PSAC East. The Raiders look to rebound this Friday, March 23, as they host Millersville University in a day-night doubleheader at 1p.m. at Fairchild Field.
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