Shippensburg University’s baseball team swept Shepherd University in a three game home series this past weekend.
The series began on Friday as SU (8-17, 3-4 PSAC) posted a 4-3 victory behind senior Ben Werkheiser’s two-run home run and sophomore Andrew Chronister’s 3-4 outing at the plate.
All four of the Raiders runs came in the first three innings as Werkheiser’s homer came in the second inning, and Chronister drove in two runs with a single in the third.
Redshirt-junior Nick Zegna pithed seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts and only three hits in the win. Sophomore Jackson LoBianco was credited with the save after getting the final out.
On Saturday the Raiders would return to the field to face the Rams again in a doubleheader. Shippensburg took Game One in another close game, winning 5-4.
In the third inning the Raiders jumped out to a 2-0 lead after an RBI-groundout by freshman Carter Hinds followed by an RBI-single from Werkheiser.
Shepherd tied the game at two after solo home runs in the third and fourth innings, but Werkheiser broke the tie after another two-run homer that plated him and graduate Matt Shilling.
In the sixth inning Hinds would plate another run with a fielder’s choice to make the score 5-3. The Rams got a run back but the game ended after Shepherd was caught stealing at second base.
Junior Noah Nabholz pitched four innings and was credited with the win. He allowed two earned runs, walked a batter and struck out four.
In Game Two, the Raiders fell behind 1-0 early. They would respond in the second inning by way of an RBI-single from junior Lake Lloyd. Graduate Juju Cason would also score in the inning to give Shippensburg a 2-1 lead.
Lloyd would give SU another run in the fourth inning thanks to an RBI-double and sophomore Joe Barbera hit an RBI-single in the eighth inning to make it 4-2.
Sophomore Austen Labarre got the final five outs of the game for the save, giving the Raiders a 4-2 win and the series sweep.
Sophomore Gabe Stotler went 7.1 innings and allowed two earned runs for the win. He walked three batters and struck out seven.
In the three-game series Werkheiser went 6-12 at the plate with two home runs, a double and five RBIs.
SU will begin its next series Friday against Lock Haven at home at 2 p.m.
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