The Raiders are in.

For the second time in two years, the Shippensburg University Men’s baseball team qualified for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference playoffs thanks to its series sweep of Bloomsburg University this past weekend.

The Raiders snagged the fourth, and final PSAC Eastern Division playoff spot, ending Kutztown University and Bloomsburg University’s playoff hopes in the process.

SU scored a combined 34 runs to Bloomsburg’s nine over the course of the four-game weekend series; winning Game 1 7-1, Game 2 9-4, Game 3 7-0 and Game 4 11-4.

The Raiders were able to clinch the East’s final playoff spot in the series’ opening doubleheader.

In Game 1, Shippensburg had a one-run lead over Bloomsburg through the first frame. That was as close as the game would get. SU scored five more runs over their next three series of at bats to put the Huskies on ice.

Mark Curtis picked up the win for SU in Game 1. He gave up a leadoff home run, but did not relinquish any more over the course of his four innings of work. Tyler Butcher and Michael Hope combined for three shutout innings in relief.

Game 2 was tied through five innings, but SU put together a seven-run sixth to blow the lid off the contest.

Andy Crum picked up his third win of the year in five and 1/3 innings pitched. He gave up six hits, four earned runs, two walks and struck out two batters.

SU returned home to Fairchild Field for Senior Day in Game 3, and it did not disappoint its elder players.

The Raiders shut Bloomsburg down in Game3, scoring seven runs all while blanking the Huskies.

SU only had a two run lead the fourth inning, but scored five in the ensuing frame.

SU got a monster performance from senior Marcus Shippey on the mound. Shippey threw a 94-pitch-complete-game shutout—his first of the season—allowing just five hits, while striking out six batters and walking none.

Game 4 saw the Raiders score 11 runs on 12 hits, en route to the final victory of the weekend.

Kyle McClintock is now 3-2 on the year after the win. He pitched four innings while Seth LeFever, Gabe Mosser and Thomas Swartz each threw one inning out of the bullpen.

This year’s trip to the playoffs is SU’s head coach, Matt Jones’, seventh appearance in his 11-year tenure at SU.

As the No. 4 seed in the East, the Raiders will take on the No. 1 seed from the PSAC Western division, Mercyhurst University, in the first round of this year’s tournament. That game is set for 6:30 p.m. next Sunday in Butler, Pennsylvania.

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