Box Score

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W. Va. - Led by four home runs, two of which came from junior Sean Killian, the Shippensburg University baseball team won its fourth-straight and seventh out of the last nine as the Red Raiders outlasted Shepherd on the road in a non-conference game Tuesday afternoon at Fairfax Field, 15-12.

In making his first relief appearance of the season, junior Matt Wright totaled three strikeouts in an inning-and-a-third to break the school's career strikeout record, passing Lee McClintock '05. With a strikeout of Matt Bartgis to lead of the eighth inning, Wright totaled his 242nd career strikeout, moving him past McClintock's four-year total of 241.

In just 33 career appearances and 182.2 innings, Wright has totaled 243 strikeouts as a Red Raider and now stands in seventh place on the all-time PSAC list after passing Frank Gailey (West Chester, 2004-07) and Ryan Vogelsong (Kutztown, 1996-98). The PSAC career record is 332 set by Anthony Zombotti of Indiana (Pa.) from 2000-03.

Next on the list in sixth place is Rick Krivda of California (Pa.) who totaled 259 from 1989-91.

Shippensburg (16-11) scored at least one run in seven of the nine innings as they scored 10 or more runs for the 10th time this season and for the third time in the last four games.

The key to victory for the Red Raiders came in the middle innings where they outscored the Rams 9-2 to break open a 5-5 tie and take a 14-7 advantage after six innings.

Shippensburg scored a decisive five runs in the top of the sixth, three of which came on a three-run homer by Killian that scored junior Kasey Kuhns and freshman Kevin Miller. Freshman Steve McCardell then doubled to right center to score junior Tim Freshour before later scoring on an RBI-single by junior Kyle Rhoades.

Killian finished the game 3-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs scored while Rhoades went 4-for-6 with two RBIs.

Not only did the Red Raiders outscore the Rams (8-11) by seven over innings four through six, but they also put together the best defensive stretch in an offensive slugfest that featured 27 runs and 36 hits. The game also featured five errors and nine pitchers.

The key in holding Shepherd scoreless in the fourth and fifth was junior Jason Kelly who picked up his second win in his 32nd career appearance and first career start. He retired six of the eight batters he faced over the two innings while allowing just two hits.

Kelly went five-and-a-third innings, surrendering 10 hits and seven runs, only five of which were earned.

Rhoades, junior Tyler Redick and sophomore Kevin Scholly all extended their hit streaks to five games while sophomore Rick Shumway went 3-for-5. All 10 of the Red Raiders who had an at-bat had at least one hit.

Shippensburg opens PSAC Western Division play on Friday with a doubleheader at Fairchild Field against Slippery Rock beginning at 1:00 p.m.