The Shippensburg University Raiders completed a four-game sweep of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division rival Lock Haven University on Friday and Saturday afternoon. 

The Raiders (16-16, 6-9 PSAC) ended the weekend with a bang, scoring 21 runs on 22 hits in their 21-3 win in Saturday’s nightcap against Lock Haven (16-11, 8-8 PSAC). It was the second time this season that the Raiders scored 20 or more runs and had 20 or more hits in a game. The first time this occurred was in a 20-0 win over Jefferson University back in early March. 

SU totaled seven extra-base hits in the onslaught, including a no-doubt home run to center field by junior Tommy Baggett. Baggett finished with three RBIs in the game. Three different Raider hitters finished the game with more than one RBI, including Baggett with four and senior Dalton Hoiles and junior Danny Johnson with three each. The Raiders plated runs in six of seven innings in this game. 

Earlier on Saturday afternoon, the Raiders used a dominant pitching performance from redshirt sophomore Zack Sims to get the 2-1 win. Sims, who is 6-3 with a 3.00 ERA this season, tossed 6 2/3 innings while giving up one run on four hits and striking out five. Sims, similarly to what senior Gabe Mosser did on the mound last season, has been having a breakout year for the Raiders. 

Cash Gladfelter and the previously mentioned Baggett did all of the damage that was necessary in the 2-1 win. Baggett drove in a run in the fourth inning to start the scoring and Gladfelter demolished his second home run of the weekend to give SU some insurance in the fifth inning. 

Heading into the weekend, Gladfelter had yet to hit a home run this season. That all changed in the second inning of Friday’s nightcap. The junior began that game’s scoring with a homer to right field, his very first of the season. 

In what proved to be a back and forth contest, SU prevailed, winning 4-2 in the second game on Friday afternoon. Gladfelter drove in two of the four runs for Shippensburg, who used a throwing error by Lock Haven to score two runs in the fifth inning to take a lead. 

The Raiders received another solid performance on the mound from senior Andy Crum, allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings, before bringing in reliever Michael Hope for the five out save, his fourth of the season. 

This weekend was a huge one for Gladfelter, who played a prominent role in each of SU’s four victories in the sweep of Lock Haven. He began the weekend going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, two doubles and a triple in the Raiders’ 8-4 win. The junior finished the weekend with his first two home runs of the season to go along with seven RBIs, three doubles and one triple. 

On the mound, the Raiders also received a stellar effort from Mosser, who threw his fourth complete game of the season. However, things were not all perfect for Mosser, who gave up four runs on the day. He began the game by allowing three runs on four hits in the first inning, and it seemed like it could be a long day for Mosser. 

However, Mosser recovered and only gave up one run in the remainder of the game. 

“I just mixed my pitches up a little bit more,” hesaid. “I started locating some fastballs as well as getting ahead and I think that was key to getting the win.”

The Raiders’ bats exploding for seven runs in the middle innings also aided Mosser. 

“It’s very uplifting to see the bats come back alive,” he said. “It’s a relief as a pitcher to get some runs and there’s not as much pressure. It’s a good feeling.” 

Mosser is currently 5-3 with a 4.02 ERA in eight starts this season. 

The Raiders next play Millersville University (21-13, 9-6 PSAC) on Wednesday afternoon at Fairchild Field in Shippensburg.

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