Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

BELMONT, N.C. - The No. 23 Shippensburg baseball team came from behind with three runs in the top of the ninth inning to win its season-opener against Belmont-Abbey on Saturday afternoon before splitting a doubleheader with the Crusaders. The Raiders won the opener 4-3 in nine innings before dropping the seven-inning nightcap, 8-4.

Shippensburg (1-1) locked into a pitcher's duel in the first game, as senior Tim Freshour went toe-to-toe with Belmont-Abbey's Tyler Powell. Freshour allowed just one hit in seven innings and did not walk a batter while striking out three. Powell scattered two hits while striking out seven over the same stretch.

Trailing by one in the top of the eighth inning, freshman right fielder Cody Kulp homered to left-center field to tie the game at 1-1. Kulp finished his first collegiate game 3-for-3 with the home run, a walk and two RBIs.

The Crusaders scratched across two runs against freshman pitcher Ryan Rehman in the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Raiders were undaunted in the top of the ninth and ripped four consecutive hits against Crusader reliever Jordan Cudney.

With one out, senior Tyler Redick started the ninth-inning rally with a single. Junior first baseman Kevin Scholly doubled to put two runners in scoring position, and junior Kyle Chronister came off the bench to deliver a pinch-hit RBI single that brought Shippensburg within a run.

Kulp tied the score with a single to left that scored the sophomore pinch-runner Steve McCardell. After freshman Eric Broney came in to replace Chronister at second base, freshman third baseman Jimmy Miller brought him with a single through the right side to give Shippensburg the lead.

Redick retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth with two strikeouts to record the save. Sophomore Kody Kibler earned the victory by helping the Raiders escape the jam in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Senior pitcher Jason Kelly started the nightcap but struggled, taking the loss after allowing five runs and seven hits in four innings of work. Offensively, Redick went 3-for-4 in the second game with two doubles, two RBIs and a run. He finished the day with four hits in eight at-bats, while Culp had three hits in six at-bats while reaching base five times.   

Shippensburg will conclude its three-game series with the Crusaders with a single game on Sunday that will begin at 1 p.m.