Baseball takes two wins in a difficult four-game set

Shippensburg University men’s baseball finished 2-2 over four games this weekend against Mansfield. The series began on Friday, April 18. The Raiders are now 22-18 on the season and 9-11 in conference play.

Friday’s doubleheader opened with a strong lead from Mansfield, leaving it difficult for SU to catch up. SU only scored in the third inning, as freshman Thomas Davenport pitched five innings and took the loss. Mansfield closed the game with an 11-run lead, winning 14-3 in the seven-inning game.

Junior AJ Wenrich led the hit a three-run home run in the first inning, making it easy for SU to pick up momentum during game two. Freshman Evan Shoffler hit a single to center field later in the inning, bringing in two runs in senior Bryce Herb and sophomore Mason Morris.

The Raiders quickly took a 7-1 lead. SU continued to build a strong lead through the top of the third and fourth inning, putting the Raiders ahead 16 runs in the set. Mansfield finally made it to the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning thanks to Shane Stossel hitting a two-run home run, bringing Ryan Sekulski with him.

SU ended the game with a 23-6 win, with nine different players driving in runs. Senior Gio Calamia went 5-for-5 with five RBIs, Wenrich brought home four and Herb and sophomore Ty Sherman each plated three.

The first game of Saturday’s doubleheader against Mansfield was tied 2-2 after two innings. The Raiders quickly took the lead in the fourth and extended their lead in the fifth.

Sherman began the scoring with an RBI hit to bring home Calamia. Morris then hit the ball up the middle, leaving time for Ty Sherman to score and put SU ahead 5-2, which would be the final score.

In game two, SU was scoreless until the third inning. Mansfield had five runs while the Raiders did not score until the bottom of the fourth inning. Mansfield continued to pour it on in the fourth inning, taking home four more runs and SU scoring none.

The Raiders gained momentum during the bottom of the fifth, with four runs. Graduate student Carter Arbuthnot hit a ground-rule double, scoring an RBI. The Raiders were able to score one more run in the bottom of the fifth. Leaving the Raiders with a 9-6 loss.

SU is set to play Shepherd in a doubleheader on Friday, April 25 in Shepherd at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. They will then conclude the series with a home doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.