Shippensburg University’s baseball team dominated Holy Family in both games of its doubleheader on a windy and cloudy Friday at Fairchild Field, 8-2 and 4-0.

The Raiders improved their record to 6-3 and remain unbeaten at home. They outhit Holy Family 15-5 over the course of the two quick games: The seven inning Game 1 and the nine-inning Game 2 both lasted less than two hours.

In Game 1, SU built a comfortable lead early on with six runs in the first three innings and won the game 8-2.

After scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning, the Raiders scored four more runs in the the third inning. With graduate Justin Byler and senior Austin Baal on base, senior Andrew Chronister brought both home with a double. Junior Gio Calamia scored Chronister with a triple in the next at-bat. Calamia then reached home after a groundout to second base by graduate Morgan Wyatt to extend the lead to 6-0.

The runs for Holy Family came from a throwing error and a wild pitch in the top of the fourth inning. The Raiders responded with two runs in the fourth to make the final score 8-2.

The starting pitcher for SU was junior Jaxon Dalena, who struck out eight over 3 2/3 innings. Dalena allowed only one hit and walked three. Senior Gabe Stotler pitched in relief for Dalena and earned the win. Stotler struck out five over 2 2/3 innings and allowed one hit.

Game 2 saw a dominant pitching performance from the Raiders as they struck out the Tigers. 

Graduate Ryan Gleason got the win as the starting pitcher for SU. Gleason struck out seven batters and allowed only one hit in six innings. 

The Raiders scored one run in the bottom of the first. With two outs and Calamia on second base, Baal stepped up to hit. Baal hit a double down the left-field line to bring Calamia home.

The next innings went scoreless for both sides. Sophomore J.T. Weaver came on to relieve Gleason at the top of the seventh and stranded two runners to secure the lead for SU. 

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Baal led off the Raiders with a home run shot to right field to extend Shippensburg´s lead to 2-0. 

With their next three at-bats the Raiders loaded the bases. Brady Harbach brought in two more runs with his single through the middle. Harbach’s two-run single was his first collegiate hit and his first collegiate RBIs. His two runs were the last of the game.

Baal had a remarkable performance in the doubleheader. He reached base six times and went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, an RBI-double, four walks and two runs scored.

Calamia also had a good day, reaching base five times and he went 3-for-6 with three RBIs, two walks and two runs.

The doubleheader on Saturday against Holy Family was cancelled. The Raiders will be back in action on Friday at noon, when they will open their Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division play against Mansfield.

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