The Shippensburg University baseball team opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play with a series win against Kutztown University over the weekend, winning the series 3–1.
Both teams endured strange weather conditions including rain, sun, snow and winds. The Raiders got a walk-off win in Game 2 off a single from senior Tommy Baggett in a come-from-behind 9–8 win. SU then shut out the Golden Bears in Games 3 and 4, winning 7–0 and 3–0.
In the first game of the series, the Raiders (10-10, 3-1 PSAC) could only muster one run off a single by freshman Lake Lloyd, bringing home sophomore Logan Williamson. Senior Zack Sims took the loss in the game and fell to 2–3 on the year.
Lake Lloyd contributes on offense over the weekend, knocking in an RBI.
Game 2 was an impressive comeback win for Shippensburg as the team trailed 6–0 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, but found its bats, scoring seven runs in the inning. The Raiders scored five of the runs with two outs. Junior Zack Zoller hit an RBI single and Baggett popped a sacrifice fly.
Senior Jack Goertzen and Williamson lined back-to-back singles, and freshman Justin Darden topped it off with a three-run home run to put the home team up one. Kutztown’s Bo Rottet smacked a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to put his team back up one going into the bottom of the final frame.
Back up to bat, Zoller then doubled home junior Jacob Pollock to tie the game and set up Baggett for the walk-off. SU did not leave a runner on base the entire game. Sophomore Dalton Oates struck out five in his start but senior Michael Hope got the win after completing the seventh inning.
Games 3 and 4 saw the teams travel to Kutztown, and Shippensburg experienced great starting pitching in both games.
Redshirt-sophomore Noah Inch threw a one-hitter in Game 3 and recorded his first career complete game. He tied his career-high in strikeouts with 10 — the third time this season he has hit that mark.
Baggett lined a bases-clearing double in the sixth inning of Game 3 with two outs that put the lead to 5–0. In Game 4 of the series, Baggett opened the scoring with another RBI double, scoring two runs.
He finished the double header 4-for-7 with a stolen base. Freshman Anthony Vavaroutsos reached base in all four of his plate appearances in Game 3.
In the final game of the series, Hope tossed another complete game for SU, the second of his career. He worked himself out of two bases-loaded jams, one in the first inning and the second in the seventh inning.
His day ended with three walks, five hits and five strikeouts. Sophomore Chase Zurawski smashed a solo homer in the second inning of Game 4 to open the scoring.
The Raiders will take the field again March 26 at home against Seton Hill University in a non-conference matchup. First pitch is at 3 p.m.
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