Shippensburg University’s baseball team was swept this weekend on the road against Catawba, dropping a trio of games to move their record to 1-3. 

The Raiders led early in all three games but lacked the offense needed to avenge Catawba’s comebacks.

Game 1 of the series took place Friday, with Catawba winning 5-4 after a walk-off.

The Raiders were ahead 4-0 after the third inning, in part due to graduate Justin Byler’s first home run of the season. The Chiefs responded with three runs in the fourth, followed by one each in the eighth and ninth, winning on a walk-off walk against sophomore Brenden Anderson.

Byler went 2-for-4 on the day with a pair of RBIs and runs scored. Juniors Gio Calamia and Carter Hinds each had an RBI in the contest as well. Graduate Ryan Gleason threw 3.2 innings of three-run ball in his second start of the season, with junior Jaxon Dalena starring in relief, throwing 4.2 innings of one-hit, one-run ball with eight strikeouts.

Saturday’s contest saw a close game early before Catawba racked up a seven-run seventh inning, winning the game 12-3. Shippensburg jumped to a 2-0 lead in the third inning but only managed to score once more the rest of the way.

Byler picked up another two RBIs in this contest, with the other run being driven in from senior Austin Baal. Sophomore J.T. Weaver took the loss in his first start of 2024, allowing four runs in 3.2 innings. Command was an issue for Weaver, giving up five walks in the start.

The series’ final game saw Catawba finish off the sweep, winning 8-5. The Raiders again started fast, going up 3-1 in the second inning, but the Chiefs took the lead in the fourth inning and held it the rest of the way.

Baal hit a solo home run in the second to tie the game, with Dalena and freshman Ty Sherman each getting an RBI in the frame as well. Byler had a pair of RBI hits late in the contest, putting his total RBIs for the series at six, but it was too little, too late.

Senior Gabe Stotler made his season debut on the hill for the Raiders, going five innings and giving up five runs, four earned, on five hits and four walks with two strikeouts. Walks were an issue all weekend for Shippensburg, giving up a total of 19 free passes across the three games.

Raiders baseball will return to campus this weekend for the home opener, taking on Pitt-Johnstown in a three-game series. The first game is Friday at 2:30 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon, with all games at Fairchild Field.

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