Shippensburg University baseball lost four games this weekend to No. 12 East Stroudsburg University, which now has won 26 games in a row.
The Raiders kept each game competitive, but various miscues kept them from snapping the streak. They now sit at 16-15 overall and 10-10 in the PSAC.
The series started on Friday with ESU hosting a doubleheader, where they won Game 1 3-0. The Warriors scored a pair in the first inning. That proved to be enough, as the Raiders offense could only muster one baserunner all game.
Graduate Ryan Gleason had a solid start on the mound for Shippensburg. He went five innings and gave up three earned runs on three hits. He also walked two and struck out six. Gleason took the loss, dropping his record to 3-2.
Shippensburg’s offense got on the board in Game 2 but still fell 5-2. The Raiders jumped ahead 2-0 in the third innings thanks to RBI hits from juniors Carter Hinds and Gio Calamia. ESU chipped away from that point, keeping the Shippensburg bats quiet.
Junior Jaxon Dalena went four innings in his start. He allowed three earned runs on four hits and struck out six. He also took the loss and fell to 2-2.
The series moved to Shippensburg for two more games on Saturday. The Raiders dropped a wild first game of the doubleheader, falling 10-8. Shippensburg went ahead 5-0 in the second inning, followed by ESU tying it in the third, then going up 10-6.The Raiders added two more runs in the seventh, but it was not enough.
Sophomore Mike Heckman was the standout for the Raiders offense, having three plate appearances with an RBI. It included his second collegiate home run in the sixth inning. Senior Austin Baal and junior Carter Arbuthnot each had a pair of RBIs as well.
Sophomore J.T. Weaver allowed six earned runs on six hits, striking out three. The loss dropped him to 3-3.
The last game of the series saw ESU grab a 7-1 win.
Baal drove in the lone run of the game for Shippensburg. It was a towering solo home run in the second inning and his seventh of the season. Senior Gabe Stotler dropped to 3-4 after taking the loss. He gave up four earned runs on seven hits in five innings, striking out three while walking three.
Raiders baseball returns to action with a road game at Pitt-Johnstown on Tuesday. A four-game series against Lock Haven University follows, starting with a pair of games at Fairchild Field on Friday at 1 p.m. and two road games on Saturday.
The Slate welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.