Shippensburg University’s baseball team won three of four games against Kutztown this weekend, moving its record to 26-18 overall, including 19-13 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play.
The win clinched the fourth seed in the PSAC East division, ensuring a spot in the conference tournament.
The series began at Kutztown with a pair of games on Friday, with the Raiders winning 4-1 in Game 1. Junior Jaxon Dalena continued his recent dominance, allowing one unearned run over seven innings and striking out eight. He has only allowed one earned run over his last three starts, stretching 20 innings.
SU picked up nine hits in the game, led by junior Carter Hinds going 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Sophomore Mike Heckman and freshman Brady Harbach each had two hits as well.
Game 2 on Friday went to Kutztown, taking a 3-2 win. The Bears came back from down 2-0 in the fourth inning, scoring three runs off freshman Conner Barto. Barto took the loss, falling to 3-2 on the year, giving up two earned in 4.2 innings.
Saturday’s games at Fairchild Field began with a 6-3 win for the Raiders in a rainy first game. The Raiders struck for three runs in the first inning, before Hinds drove in three more across his next two at bats. Senior Brock Piper starred at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI.
Graduate Ryan Gleason had arguably his best start of the season on the bump. He allowed just one hit over six scoreless innings, striking out a career-high nine and moving to 5-2 with the win. Senior Ethan Miller picked up his fourth save of the year in relief.
Between games, the team’s nine seniors were honored in a senior day ceremony, with all nine making appearances in at least one game of the doubleheader. Head coach Matt Jones discussed the seniors and said they were “awesome guys on and off the field.”
“They’ve won a lot of games,” he said. “We’re just happy to get them to the postseason.”
The final game saw Shippensburg grab a 3-2 triumph. They scored all three in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from senior Austin Baal, who totaled four RBIs for the series. The Raiders used four pitchers in the game, none going more than two innings. Senior Gabe Stotler got the win, moving to 4-4, while Miller navigated a sketchy last inning for his second save of the day.
SU baseball’s regular season ends with a home game against Frostburg State at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Coach Jones was optimistic about the teams chances in the PSAC tournament, saying, “We have the benefit of having the bye. Everyone else is going to play next weekend. We’re gonna rest up and hopefully be ready to go next Wednesday.”
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