Raiders baseball moved to .500 in PSAC East play this weekend, taking two games out of three against the Shepherd Rams. Shippensburg won a pair of one-run games to open the series before dropping the finale. This result comes after a 12-8 loss to Frostburg State on Tuesday.

The first game was on the road Friday, with the Raiders holding on for an 8-7 victory. Ship’s offense had a hot start, acquiring a 7-1 lead after six innings. They added one more in the seventh to take an 8-2 lead, then Shepherd scored five in the bottom of the inning. The Raiders bullpen hung on from there to secure the win.

Graduate Justin Byler led the way offensively for the Raiders, going three for five with a trio of RBIs, also scoring a run. Junior Morgan Wyatt also picked up three RBIs while going two for five, with sophomores Jaxon Dalena & Bryce Herb each driving in a run as well.

Graduate Noah Nabholz grabbed the win to move to 4-3 on the season, going six innings in his start. He gave up four earned runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out six. Dalena picked up his first save of the season to finish the game.

The series then moved to Shippensburg for a doubleheader on Saturday, with the Raiders winning game one 3-2. It was a seven-inning game, and the all the scoring occurred in the first three innings.

Junior Jackson LoBianco was the star of this contest, going the distance on the mound and grabbing his third win of the season. He allowed a pair of earned runs, both coming in the third inning. The other six innings were perfect, facing three batters in each for a very clean performance.

Byler picked up two more RBIs in this one, part of a 2-for-3 day. Freshman Mike Heckman also had a pair of hits, with Wyatt picking up an RBI as well.

The second game Saturday went a full nine innings and was a 10-5 win for Shepherd. The Rams struck early with a 4-run third inning before picking up a pair in the fifth and cruising from there.

Freshman J.T. Weaver got the start for the Raiders, giving up four earned runs in 2.2 innings. He only allowed one hit but walked four and hit a pair of batters. Junior Austin LaBarre pitched 4.2 innings in relief, giving up four earned runs as well.

Wyatt continued his hot series offensively, picking up three more RBIs with a double and a home run in the game. Junior Austin Baal and redshirt sophomore Brock Piper each an RBI along with two hits a piece.

The Raiders return to action on Tuesday with a home game against Pitt-Johnstown at 3 p.m. A weekend series against Lock Haven follows, with one game on the road Friday and a home doubleheader on Saturday. The doubleheader is also Alumni Day for Shippensburg baseball and starts at noon.

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