The Shippensburg University baseball team clinched a playoff spot on April 18, but did not know who they would face in round one of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tournament.

On April 25 the Raiders (25-23, 17-11 PSAC) learned that they will face Seton Hill University, the No. 2 seed in the PSAC west, on April 29 in the double elimination tournament.

The Raiders won 11 of their last 18 games to close out the regular season, including a series victory over Bloomsburg University mid-way through April.

“The Bloom series was critical for us,” head coach Matt Jones said via email. “It gave us the ability to clinch early, take pressure off the final weekend and set our pitching up for the tournament.”

SU will return to the playoffs for the first time since 2013. This year’s roster features nine players who were part of the Raider’s historic 2013 run. That year the Raiders won the Atlantic Region Championship over the Griffins and earned a trip to the NCAA Division II World Series.

“Having guys still on the team who went to the World Series will be very beneficial,” Jones said about the playoff experience those nine players have. “They should be able to help calm the nerves of those who have not been there before.”

Three of those players, junior Mike Marcinko, senior Jimmy Spanos and junior Marcus Shippey have played big roles in the Raider’s success so far this season.

Marcinko currently leads the Raiders in batting average at .391, despite missing time due to injury. Marcinko ranks second behind sophomore Jake Kennedy in on base percentage as well. Marcinko currently sits at .469 while Kennedy boasts a .471 on base percentage.

Spanos, who made the move from second base to first base this season, is currently batting .337 with 11 doubles, three homeruns and 38 RBI’s.

Shippey, who made 12 pitching appearances during the regular season, holds a 5.02 earned run average with a team leading 67 strikeouts. Shippey’s strikeouts rank fourth in the PSAC. He tallied four wins during the regular season while throwing 57.1 innings.

Freshman Gabe Mosser has provided a durable arm for the Raiders this season. Mosser has recorded six wins in 44.1innings of work while recording 53 strikeouts. He currently holds a 4.26 ERA.

Sophomore Mark Curtis leads the Raiders in innings pitched at 63.1. Curtis boasts a 5.54 ERA and has struck out 58 batters.

Offensively the Raiders have been led by senior Cody Ezolt, junior Austin Allison, sophomore Ryan McMillen and Kennedy.

Ezolt hit 10 homeruns and drove in 43 runners in 48 regular season games. Allison ranks second on the Raiders squad in batting average at .386 while collecting 68 hits.

McMillen sits first for SU and second in the PSAC for doubles at 20 while batting .356.

Kennedy, who hit cleanup for SU all season, set a single season record for homeruns at 18. Kennedy has driven in 47 runs while hitting .357.

“Jake has been tremendous in the middle of our lineup,” Jones said about the sophomores production this season. “Our run production has been great this year and he is a big part.”

The Raiders produced 315 runs during the regular season, ranking sixth in the PSAC.

SU will have to keep the Griffins top three hitters at bay on Wednesday to have a shot at upsetting SHU.

Senior Nick Sell leads SHU in batting average (.458), hits (71), homeruns (25) and RBI’s (82).

SU will also have to be cautious of redshirt-juniors Chris Miller, batting .414 and Logan Urtz, batting .402.

The Griffins leads the PSAC in team batting average (.355), doubles (111), homeruns (73) and slugging percentage (.616). SHU’s team batting average ranks second in all of DII while its slugging percentage is first in the nation.

“As far as Sell and the rest of their (SHU’s) lineup goes we just need to focus on what we do well,” Jones said about handling the Griffins’ explosive offense. “Just have to pound the bottom of the zone with more than one pitch and play good defense.”

The Raiders bats will have to be alive against a tough Griffin rotation.

SHU sophomore Zach Martinelli holds a 1.61 ERA with six wins and 44.2 innings pitched.

Junior Mike Bittel leads the Griffins with 57 strikeouts while holding an ERA of 3.94. Bittel has thrown four complete games while gathering six wins over 59.1 innings of work.

From what coach Jones said the team has not discussed its matchup with SHU quite yet. Jones likes to keep the team focused on the current week, but his staff has looked ahead and began game planning.

“As a staff we have looked ahead a little,” Jones said. “But as far as the team goes, today (Monday) will be the first time we talk about it.”

The Raiders run to the championship begins Wednesday with the first pitch set for 3:30 p.m. at Kelly Automotive Park in Butler, Pa.

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