Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - The Shippensburg University baseball team ended up getting defeated not only by the opposition on Sunday afternoon from Millersville University but also by Mother Nature, as a tornado warning and sudden thunderstorm erased a second-game comeback by the Raiders that ultimately gave the Marauders a doubleheader sweep.

Shippensburg (14-19, 4-4 PSAC East) entered the top of the sixth inning of Game 2 trailing the Marauders by a 5-2 score. The Raiders promptly drew three walks to start the inning that chased Millersville starter Derek Kline. A wild pitch from reliever Ryan Stauffer scored the first run, and a walk by freshman Cody Kulp re-loaded the bases.

Senior Kasey Kuhns, who finished the first game 2-for-3 with an RBI, hit a 3-2 fastball from Andrew Clemens into right field for an RBI-single that scored senior Kyle Rhoades and a wild pitch then scored sophomore Steve McCardell to tie the score at 5-5.

Four pitches into the bottom of the sixth, the umpires cleared the field because of ominous weather and a tornado warning that had been issued for Lancaster County. Shortly thereafter, a severe thunderstorm drenched the field for more than 20 minutes. After a delay of over a half hour, the umpires conferred and called the game due to the now-unplayable condition of the field.

The NCAA rule book unfortunately states that if a game is called due to inclement weather that the teams must revert to the last completed inning, which in this case is the fifth inning. Due to the game being called in the bottom of the sixth, the top half of the inning was erased, leaving Millersville as the victor by a 5-2 score. 

Some sloppy play from both teams riddled the early innings of the second game. Millersville plated three runs with two outs in the bottom of the first inning without the ball being put into play. A bases-loaded walk against freshman starter Nick Umberger sent the first run across the plate and a pick-off attempt from senior catcher Sean Killian sailed into the outfield and scored two more runs.

Junior first baseman Kevin Scholly hit a sacrifice fly in the second to get the Raiders on the scoreboard and Rhoades had an RBI-groundout in the third that brought Shippensburg within one run. In the bottom half of the inning, the Marauders chased Umberger after he loaded the bases with one out.

Freshman Ryan Rehman entered and got the final two outs but a bases-loaded walk was sandwiched in between that gave the Marauders a two-run lead. An RBI-double in the fifth from Miles Gallagher gave Millerville its three-run lead before the Raider-rally-that-wasn't.

The first game developed into a pitcher's duel between Raider sophomore Kody Kibler and Marauder junior Forrest Mengle, the cousin of Raider alum Jamie Mengle '07. Millersville scored once in the second and Kuhns delivered an RBI-single in the third which tied the score at 1-1.

Kibler retired 11 out of 13 batters entering the sixth inning but then ran into trouble. With runners in scoring position and two outs, Marauder designated hitter Andrew Dochterman singled to bring in the go-ahead run. A bases-loaded single from Scott Slembecker off senior reliever Tyler Redick gave the Marauders the 3-1 lead.

In the seventh, Redick singled with one out and Rhoades followed with a single to put two runners on base. McCardell followed with a shot off the base of the wall, but left fielder Kent Gerdes got to the ball quickly and the relay throw nailed Redick at the plate. Kulp flied out to right field to end the game. 

Shippensburg returns to action on Tuesday with a home doubleheader against Seton Hill from Fairchild Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.