The Shippensburg University baseball team got swept this past weekend by No. 16 Millersville, losing its three games by a combined four runs. All three games were entertaining contests, with the first two featuring three lead changes each and the finale having a combined 25 hits.

The series began with a standalone game at Millersville on Friday, with the Marauders picking up a 3-2 victory. It was a solid pitchers’ duel throughout, but Millersville senior Bren Taylor’s second home run of the day gave Millersville the lead for good in the seventh.

Junior Jackson LoBianco got a tough-luck loss on the mound after posting his second quality start. He gave up three runs on seven hits over six innings of work, picking up a pair of strikeouts along the way.

Offensively, sophomore Bryce Herb had the Raiders’ lone RBI of the day with his sixth inning single, with the other run coming from an error. Freshman Mike Heckman went three-for-five, while sophomore Carter Hinds picked up a pair of hits with a run scored.

After rainouts on Saturday, game two was a seven-inning contest to start a Sunday doubleheader in Shippensburg. Millersville took this one 7-6, scoring in six of the seven innings. The Raiders picked up five runs in the fourth for a 6-4 lead, but it was not enough.

Graduate Noah Nabholz went four innings in his start, allowing four runs on five hits on his way to a no decision. Command was an issue, as he walked six batters while striking out three.

Nine different Raiders had hits on offense, with junior Austin Baal leading the way, going two-for-four with a pair of RBIs. Graduate Justin Byler and junior Andrew Chronister each had multi-hit games as well, with Byler getting an RBI.

The series finale was a back-and-forth affair, with Millersville winning 8-6. Millersville was up 6-0 in the third, before the Raiders made it 6-5 in the sixth, followed by a pair of insurance runs from Millersville in the seventh.

Freshman J.T. Weaver was handed the loss after a five-inning start, giving up six runs on 11 hits. He walked a batter and struck out one. Redshirt freshman Eric Bohenek followed with four effective relief innings, giving up only two runs on two hits.

Baal picked up four RBIs in this game, including a three-run homer in the third to get the Raiders on the board. Heckman once again went three-for-five, with Hinds also having his second multi-hit game of the series with a run scored.

The Raiders will look to right the ship this week, starting with a road contest at Pitt-Johnstown on Tuesday. This is followed by a three-game weekend series against Kutztown. Game 1 is at 2 p.m. Friday at Shippensburg before a road doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon.

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