The Shippensburg University Red Raiders hosted West Chester University for a Senior Day doubleheader on Friday, dropping the opener 5-4, but taking the nightcap, 7-3.
Sophomore Jake Kennedy tied and broke the SU home run record in a single season in consecutive at-bats during Game One, passing Todd Melisauskas, who was drafted by the Dodgers and inducted into the SU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.
Despite Kennedy’s performance, it wasn’t enough offense, as West Chester scored the game-winning run in the top of the seventh inning.
In Game 2, SU was able to beat WCU pitcher Nick Stallings for his first loss of the season, chasing him after he was unable to get an out in the third inning. The Red Raiders scored three runs in the second and fourth innings, and shut WCU down behind a strong effort from junior pitcher Marcus Shippey.
Shippey earned the win while allowing only three runs on four hits and striking out five over his six innings of work.
Sophomore Ryan McMillen finished the day 3-for-7 with a double and an RBI, while freshman Grant Hoover went 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI of his own. Senior Jimmy Spanos finished with three RBIs on the day, and was recognized along with Cody Ezolt and Nick Massetti in a Senior Day ceremony between games.
The Red Raiders travel to West Chester on Saturday to play the team’s regular season finale.
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