Shippensburg baseball picked up two wins this past weekend against Kutztown and moved their season record to 22-22. The Raiders now sit at 9-12 in PSAC play, putting them sixth in the east division with one conference series to go. They are 2.5 games out of a PSAC tournament spot, although the two teams above them each have two conference series left.

Following a midweek 17-7 win over Pitt-Johnstown, game one of the series was here at Shippensburg on Friday, with Kutztown winning 7-1. The Raiders hit the ball well throughout the game, but couldn’t capitalize with men on base, leaving 11 runners on.

Junior Jackson LoBianco started on the mound for the Raiders, giving up three earned runs over four innings of work. He gave up six hits and hit a batter while striking out two. He got the loss in the contest, falling to 3-3 on the season.

Junior Andrew Chronister and Sophomore Carter Hinds led the way offensively for the Raiders, each going 3-for-4 with Hinds scoring a run and Chronister getting an RBI. Sophomore Jaxon Dalena and Freshman Mike Heckman each had a pair of hits as well.

The series moved to Kutztown for a pair of seven-inning contests on Saturday, with game one going to Shippensburg 6-3. The game was tied after seven innings before the Raiders pulled ahead on an error, before picking up a pair of insurance runs.

Graduate Noah Nabholz went all eight innings on the mound for Shippensburg and gave up three runs (three earned) on eight hits. He didn’t walk any batters, a huge improvement after walking six last start and struck out six batters. The win moved him to 5-4.

Dalena was the lone batter with multiple RBI for Shippensburg, picking up a pair on a first inning double. Junior Austin Baal, graduate Justin Byler and Chronister each had an RBI, with Ball, Chronister and Hinds each having two hits.

Game three was also a Raiders win, this time 7-4. The game changed in the sixth inning, with Shippensburg scoring five runs in the frame. It was a sloppy game overall as well, with a combined six errors from both sides.

Freshman J.T. Weaver went 1.1 innings in his start, giving up three earned runs on two hits and two walks. Redshirt freshman Eric Bohenek got his fifth win after 3.2 innings of relief, and junior Austen LaBarre got his seventh save, pitching two scoreless innings to finish the contest.

Sophomore Gio Calamia and Hinds each had two RBI in this one. Sophomore Bryce Herb drove in the tying run with his single in the sixth before Heckman reached on a throwing error that also brought in the go-ahead run.

The Raiders take a break from PSAC play this weekend, hosting Mercy College for a three-game series. All three games are at Fairchild Field with a 3:00 game on Friday before a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.

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