Major League Baseball (MLB) is experimenting with things like a pitch clock to speed up the game and improve offense. Maybe the MLB commissioner should watch Shippensburg University and take notes because these boys are doing work, combining for 29 runs in the last three games.

The SU baseball team carried the momentum from last Sunday’s shutout game into the recent double-header against Barton this weekend. The bats were hot but both games were close, resulting in a SU win in the opening game, 6-5, and a loss in the second game, 10-9.

SU’s big bats sent four long balls over the fence, bringing the home run total to 12 in just five games but they also gave up five home runs to Barton. The pitching staff has allowed nine home runs through five games after allowing just seven in the entire 2014 season. If the Raiders’ pitching improves to match the efforts at the plate, the SU team will become a feared opponent in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division.

Junior starting pitcher Rich Michaud improved to 2-0 by winning the opener, allowing four runs (three earned) through 4.2 innings. Junior Marcus Shippey threw two perfect innings of relief in Game 1, striking out three, to record the save.

Sophomore Mark Curtis threw four scoreless innings to start Game 2 but the Barton bats caught up in the fifth inning. Curtis struck out seven but gave up four runs in his 4.2 inning effort.

Senior Cody Ezolt had an exciting day, going 3-for-7 with two homers, his first career triple, four RBIs, two walks, three steals and two runs. Ezolt matched his career total of three steals through 84 career games on Saturday and Sophomore Jake Kennedy matched his 38 game career steal total as well with two. Kennedy reached base six times, racked up four hits, hit the first triple of his career, and smashed his fifth home.

Shippensburg is scheduled to face Shepherd next weekend. Sunday's game at Barton was canceled due to the weather being undesirable.

Game 1: Shippensburg 6, Barton 5

The Raiders scored four runs before the first out, picking up all six runs in the first inning. Junior Mark Marcinko led off the game with a single and sophomore Ryan McMillen drew a walk on four pitches. Senior Jimmy Spanos singled to bring Marcinko home, and then Ezolt cleared the bases with a three-run home run.

Kennedy tripled after Ezolt’s homer, and junior Austin Allison’s sacrifice fly scored Kennedy. Freshman Dalton Hoiles singled with two outs, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. A single up the middle by freshman Grant Hoover scored Hoiles.

Michaud gave up a solo homer in the fourth to give Barton their first run then the Barton Bulldogs scored four runs in the fifth off three home runs with the last coming from the relief pitcher.

Game 2: Barton 10, Shippensburg 9

SU’s first run came off a wild pitch and then back-to-back homers by Exolt and Kenedy began a chain of events. In the fifth inning Marcinko and McMillen hit back-to-back doubles before Spanos homered to build a 6-0 lead. The Bulldogs rallied in the bottom of the fifth scoring four times and then added five more runs in the seventh inning to take the lead.

The Raiders trailed 10-7 entering the top of the ninth but made a run for the win, scoring two runs and getting the tying run on base. The effort fell short when the tying run was stranded on base due to a strikeout to end the game.

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